Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has accused Queensland Premier Anna Bligh of giving with one hand and taking with the other. The claim comes after Anna Bligh today announced that she will be giving back 75,000 hectares of park known as Archer Bend to the Wik Mungkan people on Cape York.
“This is so typical of the Labor Government, they are giving the Wik Mungkan people back their land, but in the next breathe locking it up under proposed Wild Rivers legislation so the people cannot use it,
“They are giving with one hand and taking away with the other and it is deceitful and appalling and they should be ashamed of themselves.
“The Labor Government is renowned for taking away the most vital and economically productive land from the indigenous peoples and only allowing them use of ‘fringe?land’ for economic benefit.
“Anna Bligh should not be proud of her announcement today, she should be hanging her head in shame as the Cape York people deserve better, they deserve transparency and the right to determine their own futures instead of being held to ransom by the Labor Government,” said Warren Entsch.
Mr Entsch said if Ms Bligh really cared about the indigenous people and their land rights, she would stand up and oppose Wild Rivers legislation.
“I ask Ms Bligh if she is going to stand up and fight for the indigenous peoples over the destructive Wild Rivers legislation that the Labor Government is imposing which will see the livelihoods of Cape York landowners severely constrained,
“This is not a day for Ms Bligh to gloat, but rather a day for the truth to be heard,” said Mr Entsch.
