Call Your MP - (Gaven Electorate)

With a state election just around the corner now is an important time to make sure your MP and candidates know what issues are important to you. 

Queensland is a special place, and our national parks provide a legal safeguard for wildlife habitat and connect us with rich, life-giving landscapes essential for our well being. Unfortunately, Queensland still has the smallest proportion of land in national parks and protected areas compared with other states, despite a previous commitment by the state government to double the protected areas system. 

The Queensland Government just released their Protected Areas Strategy. This strategy has the potential to be a turning point on expanding and caring for our national parks and nature refuges, but the ambitious plans need to be matched with ambitious funding, which the strategy currently lacks. 

Will you call your Labor and LNP Member of Parliament and candidate? We need bold commitments from all sides of politics in the coming weeks to outline what further steps they will take to protect Queensland's unique wildlife. 

Use the talking points and contact details below. You can find out more about the campaign and figures mentioned here.

Talking Points for your Labor MP

  • Research shows, national parks are important to Queensland’s economy and for every $1 dollar spent on visitor management, $6.30 is generated in economic benefit.  
  • The Protected Area Strategy is welcomed particularly:
    • The 17% target 
    • Renewed focus on management of natural and cultural values 
  • To deliver the strategy will require more funding for new parks and increased management demands, conservation groups have asked for an annual acquisition budget of around $50 million. 
  • I would like to see a re-elected Labor government commit to increasing the funding available to buy new areas for national parks. 

Labor MP Contact Details

Meaghan Scanlon

(07) 5560 7100

 

 

Talking Points for your LNP Candidate

  • As recent research shows, national parks are important to Queensland’s economy and for every $1 dollar spent on visitor management, $6.30 is generated in economic benefit.  
  • Queensland now has a Protected Area Strategy that I hope the LNP can get behind. 
  • We are encouraged by the comments made by David Crisafulli as shadow environment minister in support of protecting 17%. 
  • To reach 17% will require dedicated funding commitments to buy and manage new protected areas. 
  • I would like to see an LNP government commit to increased funding for new and existing national parks.

 

LNP Candidate Contact Details

Kirsten Jackson

0448 407 485

 

 


Other tips

  • You can find out more about the protected areas strategy here. 
  • When calling your MP you will speak to office staff, let them know you are a constituent and leave your name and suburb. 
  • Let them know you would like them to get back to you to let you know where they stand on the issue. 
  • The best time to call would be during business hours, if you can't manage that give them a call after hours and leave a message.
  • Be kind and respectful.

Queensland Conservation Council. Authorised by Louise Matthieson, QCC Director, 1/377 Montague Rd, West End, QLD 4101, Australia