The Queensland Government has reversed controversial laws that opened up the state’s national parks to commercial operations.
The new law requires that the management of national parks is to be guided by the primary goal of conserving nature.
This reform reverses the changes made in 2013 and 2014 which broadened and downgraded the protected area concept.
“Environment Minister Steven Miles hailed the new rules, which he said was “quite unlike the previous government’s open-slather approach, which was inviting intolerable intrusions into our park estate”.
The Australian Conservation Foundation was quick to welcome the changes, saying they would protect national parks from inappropriate uses, including grazing.
“These reforms to the Nature Conservation Act will help make sure national parks and other protected areas are established, maintained and passed on to future generations in good condition,” spokesman Andrew Picone said.
