LNP chips in $80m to expand national parks

A Liberal National Party government would dedicate $80m to expand national parks and private reserves.

LNP environment spokesman David Crisafulli. Picture: Alix Sweeney

A Liberal National Party government would dedicate $80m to ­expand national parks and private reserves, almost tripling the commitment by Labor.

LNP environment spokesman David Crisafulli will reveal the funding — a “minimum” of $20m a year over four years — on Saturday, pitching the investment as a way to protect biodiversity and threatened species, and create jobs. Environmental groups have welcomed the move, which they say will be the biggest financial commitment to expanding Queensland’s protected areas in a decade.

Mr Crisafulli did not comment on Friday, but The Weekend Australian has seen correspondence from him to conservation groups, detailing the funding.

“A future LNP government will continue our party’s strong record of environmental protection to ­ensure our kids and their kids enjoy Queensland’s natural ­beauty,” Mr Crisafulli says in a ­letter. “Because of Labor’s underinvestment, populations of threatened species like koalas are declining in Queensland.”

On the eve of the election campaign, Labor Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch committed $28m over four years to the acquisition of properties as part of a $60m national park package.

Conservationists said the plan was a strong foundation but lacked measurable targets and was underfunded. Queensland Conservation Council protected areas co-ordinator Andrew Picone said the LNP’s pending announcement was recognition of the importance of protected areas to biodiversity and the state’s economy.