How Can a Senate Inquiry Help?

[westholme]

I'd like to be the first one to post here in this new section as I have a few questions that those in the know may like to answer, in detail.

How can a Senate inquiry help?
Is it simply the publicity it will garner?
Will it even garner anymore publicity than the dam already has?

How can it help our fight to stop this dam proposal?
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CESARE LOMBROSO "The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand"

[elisamary]

In an attempt to answer your question, it seems at present, that the Federal Government will have the final say in whether or not the dam goes ahead. Even Anna Bligh a few nights ago on the news said that the dam will only go ahead if the Federal Government do not block it.
I found that a VERY interesting comment. Does she know something we don't? Perhaps she is already trying to do an about turn? She only said at this time the dam is full speed ahead, but she gave reasons why it would not - and one of those was the Federal Government.
If a Senate Inquiry can prove that the dam is not viable, then that can only be in the Valley's interest.
I just hope the inquiry is finalised before the Federal Election. Lets hope that the Feds aren't just "talking the talk" in order for them to get re-elected and then, after they are comfortably back in, say that they can not stop Beattie as he is complying with all environmental requirements ie: re-locating the lung fish etc.

[car2522]

Elisa,

I read your whole post with interest and am glad you cleared up my misconceptions also but I have a question to put to you. Where did 'relocating the lungfish' come from? Has that been a plan put forward by Bleattie? I find it a stupid plan - if that is what it is. Or was it just an example you've used?

Cheers Car2522

And just for the record for other readers. There are only two river systems these lungies have successfully bred. The Burnett River near Bundaberg and the Mary River near Gympie. There were some lungies moved to the Brisbane River and Pine River in the 1960's or 1970's. Although these may be still alive they have never been show to have bred - doomed individuals. In terms of the Burnett River system it has been estimated that 80% of lungfish breeding habitat is gone - and with that possibly a very high proportion of fish as well (This from State Gov documents). We know from leaked documents that the Walla Weir fish ladder (10 metres) does not work with lungies (2002/03 over 1285 lungies microchipped and 7 used the ladder over the year - The Magnificent Seven). The Paradise Dam fish ladder hasn't even been operational enough for them to test it. So anyone can see that the Burnett River system can be considered stuffed. So the only River system left for the innocent lung-bunger is the Mary. If we dam that - then the 'oldest fish in the world' will become the 'fish that once was the oldest in the world but is now extinct' through the incompetence and deceipt of the Bleattie Government.

To move a proportion of the individuals to an alternative site will just spread the animals around and not improve their chances of survival. To move a proportion of the individuals into a breeding facility is even more distressing. To release doomed offspring into an unfavourable and dangerous habitat is criminal. We have no interest in having a zoo to torture lungies - we want an entire ecosystem (and the EPBC Act requires this).
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" Bliar Bliar Pants on Fire. If you were Pinocchio we could use your nose to build the pipeline."

[westholme]

Those lungies are lucky to have you on their side car2522.

Elisamary, I too wondered at that comment of Bligh's. Felt it was a subtle drop in to start people thinking that it won't be their fault if Brisbane runs out of water, it'll be the fed Gov, because they wanted to build a dam, the fed gov wouldn't let them.
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CESARE LOMBROSO "The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand"

[arawajo]

Hi Elisamary,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the workings of parliament with us. It's good to have you on side and I for one welcome your input. I'm sure the about turn on the dam will come, it's just a matter of time. Things like the senate inquiry are a chance for them to get out of it and blame someone else.
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When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes obligation" - Steve Biko

[elisamary]

I was told not long after the dam plan was announced by Palasczuk's senior advisor that they had expected one of the major environmental issues would be that of the Lungfish - they had apparently already come up with a relocation plan for the fish. They were of the belief that this would be one of the biggest obstacles in their path and one which the Federal Government would jump on which is why they had already come up with a plan to re-locate the fish.
Also, a media reporter told me that he was aware of a guy on the Sunshine Coast who has been breeding Lung fish for years, and sells them for around $1000 each!!!!!!!Apparently he can be found on the internet????

[car2522]

Thanks Elisa, If that is their plan then they have rocks in their heads and it will be very difficult for it to get EPBC approval.
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" Bliar Bliar Pants on Fire. If you were Pinocchio we could use your nose to build the pipeline."

[Rev Watt]

Hi Elisa,
Want to buy a Lungfish go here:

http://www.ceratodus.com/

Retail Prices*


Quantity
Size
Total Cost incl. Freight
One (1) 6inch to 8 inch $850.00 USD
One (1) 10inch to 12 inch $1,095.00 USD

Two (2) 6inch to 8 inch $1,500.00 USD
Two (2) 10inch to 12 inch $1,900.00 USD

Five (5) 6inch to 8 inch $2,825.00 USD
Five (5) 10inch to 12 inch $3,925.00 USD
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Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. John 4:13f