Should National Parks Be Privatised?

A growing coalition of community groups is raising concerns about the Government’s plans for privatisation of iconic parts of National Parks across Queensland.
These groups believe that developers are being offered exclusive leases and parks will be pricing everyday Queenslanders out of the natural experiences these parks were created to offer, for private profit.
Local community groups are worried that if Queensland’s National Parks continue to grant exclusive leases to commercial operators it will transform public parks into high-priced, privatised ventures that only a few will be able to afford.
At a recent public meeting in the Whitsundays, residents and business operators made it clear that they did not support these moves. While eco-tourism is touted as a benefit, many fear it has become a cover for high-end, profit-driven enterprises that cater only to wealthy tourists. Instead of genuine conservation-driven activities.
"National Parks were established for conservation and for all people to enjoy. We believe these plans are nothing less than developer land-grabs being carried out in a process that by no stretch of the imagination could be called open and transparent" says Suzette Pelt, President of Whitsundays Save Our Foreshore Inc, a local public land advocacy group.
Suzette believes that privatising National Parks undermines the very purpose of these protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
They are calling on the Queensland Government to put a stop to this commercialisation and to protect the rights of all Queenslanders and future generations to access and enjoy the state’s stunning natural landscapes without financial barriers.
You can show your support for this issue by signing a petition entitled Save Our National Parks From Commercialisation available through parliament.qld.gov.au and sponsored by Michael Berkman MP.
So far, the cause has garnered 4,183 signatures on the petition.

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Community groups say no to privatising national parks

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