CRIPPS PURSUES MINISTERS OVER PELORUS DEBACLE

Goats

Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, has continued to pursue two Palaszczuk Government Ministers over their involvement in the shutting down of a feral goat control program on Pelorus Island.

Mr Cripps placed two Questions on Notice in the Queensland Parliament this week seeking information from Environment Minister, Steven Miles and Agriculture Minister, Leanne Donaldson.

“I’m determined to get to the bottom of this, because I believe both Ministers still have legitimate questions to answer about their involvement in this debacle, which they created” said Mr Cripps.

“The ridiculous thing is the Hinchinbrook Shire Council has spent ratepayers’ money shutting down a pest control program which the Palaszczuk Government approved in the first place” he said.

“I’ve asked Minister Miles to provide all the advice provided to him by his department before he issued the interim conservation order in relation to the feral goat control program on the island”.

“Further, I’ve asked Minister Donaldson to advise whether she supports the independent decision of the Animal Ethics Committee within her department to approve the project on Pelorus Island”.

“I suspect that Minister Miles has made a political decision to shut down a project he didn’t like which isn’t supported by any real evidence, which is why I’ve asked to see the advice he received”.

“As for Minister Donaldson, her decision to hang the officers in her department out to dry after they had originally approved the use of wild dogs to reduce feral goat numbers is an absolute disgrace”.

“I am continuing my strong support for the Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s feral goat control program on Pelorus Island and I will hold these two Ministers to account for their questionable behaviour”.

Mr Cripps said he would continue to press for the Palaszczuk Government to refund the Hinchinbrook Shire Council for the costs of compliance with the interim conservation order.

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