Wide Bay MPs have clashed in state parliament over a new commission that will be asked to investigate claims of flawed science impacting Gympie region’s heavily regulated farming, forestry and fishing industries.
Gympie MP and Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett backed new laws to establish an “independent” Productivity Commission, which he says will be asked to investigate environmental restrictions and allegedly flawed scientific advice in some cases.
His Opposition counterpart, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith questioned the commission’s actual independence and attacked the laws as “anti-worker”.
Mr Perrett said on average every Queenslander would be $11,000 a year better off if productivity had not declined under the previous Government, which had used questionable science to justify “decisions that adversely impacted regional communities and businesses.”
This had particularly affected the fishing industry, which is now all but shut down at Tin Can Bay, with the loss of family businesses and employment.
Mr Perrett said he wanted the commission to question advice “put forward by scientific institutions, that lack quality assurance and scientific integrity.”
“Primary industries are the backbone of our economy. They are what many of our regional communities are built on.
“We see now as the ideal time to back things up with evidence based science overseen by an independent statutory body,” he said.
“Bad science leads to bad policy, which imposes significant economic costs on Queenslanders,” he said.
The Government would ask the commission “to assess the implementation of the outstanding measures in the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.”
Mr Smith said the new body would not be truly independent but would attack unionised workers.
“Whatever the Premier wants the Premier will get through this so-called independent productivity commission.
“Not only can the Treasurer refuse the commission the opportunity to commence its own research, he can amend the research proposal without limit. The commission still requires the Treasurer’s approval before publishing its research. Where is the independence?”
“We have LNP backbenchers running around agriculture forums in Queensland promising that they will overturn vegetation management and reef regulations.
“Will the Productivity Commission look at fishing restrictions? Will they look into the Shark Control Program?”
Greens MP Michael Berkman said productivity measurements could over-ride quality of life and could be code for justifying “the power of big business, the enormous wealth of billionaires and the rapidly growing divide between the very wealthy and ordinary people.”
“Conventional concepts of productivity prioritise activities that generate profits, often at the expense of those who sustain communities, care for people or protect the environment.
“Such social impacts, like declining living standards or housing security or environmental impacts can be minimised and written off.
“Meanwhile, the things that truly enrich our environment, our communities and our other lives – things like raising children, caring for the elderly, sustaining communities or preserving the environment—are undervalued or ignored because they do not directly contribute to profit making.
“A nurse rushing between patients due to understaffing is seen as more more productive.
“A worker who does unpaid overtime is seen as more productive than one who has time for family,” he said.
