Seeing the rivers for the trees

After years of consultation and negotiation with Indigenous and conservation representatives, the Queensland government announced in mid 2008 its intention to protect the first three river systems on Cape York Peninsula - the Archer, Stewart and Lockhart River Basins. The subsequent Wild River declarations in April 2009, which followed considerable further community consultation, included the protection of the stunning Aurukun wetlands from sand and bauxite mining threats, which previously had no form of protection despite their immense natural and cultural values.

Regrettably, these recent declarations have triggered the latest chapter in an extraordinary four-year anti-wild rivers campaign, led by Noel Pearson, and supported whole-heartedly by Howard stalwart Senator Bill Heffernan and The Australian newspaper, with newer recruits such as Property Rights Australia and Piers Ackerman.

With a predictable chorus of “dirty greenie deals”, and claims that this is about ”locking up rivers” and the land, and denying Indigenous people economic opportunities, the campaign has been built on the deliberate spreading of public misinformation, creation of community fear, and a smearing of The Wilderness Society and conservationists.

Examples here include the distribution of materials by Pearson’s “Give Us a Go” campaign to Cape York communities that claim Wild Rivers will lead to the banning of traditional hunting and fishing; and the false accusation that the Wilderness Society somehow stymied the consultation process with Traditional Owners. Many more instances of misinformation, deception and fear-mongering as well an illustration of the many supportive Indigenous voices on wild rivers can be found at www.giveusabreak.org.au.

Through the fog of the imbalanced Wild Rivers public argument, those closely attuned to the global environmental calamity we all face see the breakthrough and significance of the initiative. Based on so many mistakes in the past, the Wild Rivers initiative seeks to guide us all in terms of what future development is appropriate on our free-flowing rivers, and what sort of legacy we will leave for present and future generations.