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Labor Guilty Of Fuel Reduction Burns Cover-UpThe Bracks Government has been caught out deliberately misleading the public about its performance on fuel reduction burning on public land. By Phillip Davis - 19th June 2006 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis has requested the Auditor General to investigate the performance of the Department of Sustainability and Environment on prescribed burns, how it reports on completed burns and targets.
Until this week, the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website incorrectly claimed that 110,000 hectares of its 130,000 hectare target of bush had been burned this financial year.
"In fact the Bracks Government not only failed to burn 130,000 hectares, but it never intended to hit that target," Mr Davis said.
"This is despite the 2006-07 Budget papers tabled at the end of May also stating the target of 130,000 hectares was expected to be achieved.
"The Government now claims that only 49,000 hectares were burnt, but attempted to cover it up by falsely representing on its website that 110,000 hectares had been burnt.
"This blatantly incorrect information remained on the DSE website until it was publicly exposed by the Liberal Party."
Mr Davis has possession of internal Departmental documents which reveal the DSE had no intention of reaching a burning target of 130,000 hectares of bush.
The documents show DSE only planned to burn 83,000 hectares but had only managed to achieve 43,000 hectares to the end of May.
"This is yet another example of the Bracks Government attempting to mislead the public, especially with an election just around the corner," Mr Davis said.
"I have formally requested the Auditor General investigate this matter, because I believe the Bracks Government has willfully engaged in the deception of the public, failed its duty of care to country Victoria and neglected the management of parks and forests.
"The Bracks Government is deceiving the public to cover-up the fact its management of public land is seriously inadequate.
"But the Liberal Party will remain relentless in holding the Government to account."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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