In November 2018, on behalf of ASH, Margaret Moorhouse reported (twice) to Minister Enoch’s office staff that the public expects: ​

If you are lucky enough to get a written response to your letter to a Queensland government minister, it is likely to be a set of cobbled-together pre-approved paragraphs that do not answer your questions; contrary to the values and principles set out in the public service codes. 

See links below for Queensland Public Service Code and Queensland Public Service writing style.  
Contrary to the public service codes, the ministerial form letter discussed below (Nov-Dec 2018) is clearly designed to fudge the definition of ‘’national park’’ without admitting it was the Palaszczuk Labor Government using a changed definition by stealth, and without public consultation. ​

Most shocking of all, key people, now employed in the Department of Environment to bulldoze a path for specific private businesses, have neither qualifications nor interest in protecting natural areas. These Labor Government  employees are serving private interests, while we pay their public servant salaries.

• The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Department has disrespected the history of national parks and the public-spirited men and women who founded the national parks movement and worked through their lives to establish individual national parks. 
• The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Department acts as if the world began five years ago - with the Newman amendments to the NCA - dismissing 110 years of successive Queensland governments holding in trust these most precious of landscapes and special places of richest biodiversity.
• In November an Executive Director of QPWS dismissed the 110 year-old national park concept (and the Cardinal Principle of national park management) as ‘just ideology’ (November 2018).

Environment Minister Enoch has been strangely silent in the context of her staff exhibiting disrespect for national parks and those who would defend them; leaving DITID Minister Kate Jones and billionaire Brett Godfrey to run the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Department and ruin the peoples’ national parks.  ​

​ 
NATIONAL PARKS ARE NOW “NATIONAL PARK” IN NAME ONLY.

Not just because it was a promise made over and over, but because: ​

​​It is clear from parliamentary records that Labor MPs in opposition were well aware of the implications of each Newman amendment. HERE ARE THE WORDS OF BILL BYRNE MP (Labor, in opposition): ​

Breaking a pre-election promise, the Palaszczuk government innovated the Nature Conservation Act to allow Big Tourism on Hinchinbrook Island (as boasted by Innovation Minister Kate Jones on ABC TV).

Big Tourism disrespects village communities and their sustainable lifestyle and economy. Big Tourism would rob Cardwell, Lucinda and Dungeness of their economic and social connections with one of the world’s greatest treasures, and their greatest treasure, Hinchinbrook Island.

Hinchinbrook Island’s wilderness value benefits Cardwell by generating tourism business for locals – but only while it remains a non-residential and low-visitation destination.
​
Ends

CONTACT: Margaret Moorhouse (Mob) 0427 724 052 email: hinchinbrookforever@gmail.com
 
Photos:
White shoes – Hinchinbrook Campaign postcard 1990s - ASH files 
Black shoes –"Former rivals Geoff Dixon and Brett Godfrey partner in walking tourism venture"   Australian Financial Review Magazine 24 Nov 2016 

Marketed as "eco-accommodation", this could include cabins, retreats, huts or glamping.
Private companies are also invited to provide commercial activities, tour guides, and equipment hire.

The matter has come to a head with the death of conservationist Margaret Thorsborne AO, who dedicated her life to defending the environment and wildlife on island.The trail is named after her late husband Arthur.

This week, as family and friends gathered for Mrs Thorsborne's funeral, many voiced their anger at the Government's plans.

The Thorsborne family, conservationists and traditional owners have vowed to fight commercialisation of the trail in memory of the couple who dedicated their lives to conserve it.
Mrs Thorsborne's nephew John Thorsborne said she had "moved heaven and Earth" for six decades to preserve Hinchinbrook Island as a wilderness.

He said she would be "absolutely appalled" that private enterprise would be operating within national parks.

"They are established by the state, they are funded by the state, they are managed by the state, and they are for the people of the state," he said.
​
The island already has a failed private resort on a long-term lease sitting in ruins.

Trail hikers Eddie and Tamie Cleaver said the development was not necessary because they were attracted to the walk because of its seclusion.

"I think those options are already available. On other islands, like the Whitsundays," Eddie Cleaver said.
​
"There are not that many places left that you can you safely backpack across an island for six days, have minimum facilities and not bump into a small hotel," Tamie Cleaver said.

The State Government is looking to give companies a fast-tracked "coordinated approvals process" and could offer rent abatement during that time.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is concerned the approval process may not require a full environmental impact assessment or public consultation.

The Government would contribute up to $5 million for eco-accommodation to be built along the Whitsunday Island Trail.
​
Companies are also being urged to apply for loans from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to pay for the project.

Hinchinbrook Island, the burnt-out remains of a failed government lease lies abandoned.
The cyclone ravaged Cape Richards resort and sewerage treatment plant accumulated around $800,000 in debts to state and local governments.

It was the only accommodation on the national park island, but over the past eight years had been smashed by Cyclone Yasi, looted by vandals and destroyed by fire.

The island's local councillor Glenn Raleigh and tourism operators wanted the resort fixed before they invited any more private companies to invest.

"These private investments in national parks need to have some sort of mechanism in place, so that if they do go belly up there is something in the kitty to restore the environment," Mr Raleigh said.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said she supported having long-term leases with private companies within national parks.

"We have listened to industry and they do need certainty on their lease to make sure they can make the investment," she said.

"We want to make sure we get it right but we absolutely want to partner with the private sector, who are best placed to offer that genuine tourism experience."

Ms Jones said Tasmania had recently taken "all of the eco-tourism market in Australia" after a private company took over some of the walking trails.

​Sean Ryan, principal solicitor of the Environmental Defenders Office, said he thought a Labor Government would have reversed the changes.

"This is a weakening of protection of national parks in Queensland, we've never seen this before," he said.

Ms Jones said the failed resort lease was a separate issue.

"We are doing separate work in regard to that resort, in ensuring that anyone that has a lease on one of our island has to be actively working on that lease," she said.

Katter's Australian Party Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto said the proposal was a "wonderful" investment opportunity for the region.

"Our electorate is crying out for jobs and eco-tourism can provide just that," he said.

Mr Dametto said he had "no issue with the state offering exclusive ground leases on national park land," because the option "makes sense if you want to market Hinchinbrook Island as a 'stay and play' destination".

But he said the trail should be freely accessible at all times.

Posted 27 Oct  2018, updated 27 Oct 2018

Queensland Government wants built accommodation OUTSIDE resort lease – on self-reliant WILDERNESS walk!   
The last time we called HANDS OFF HINCHINBROOK! was in the 1990s – to protect Hinchinbrook Island from the depredations of white shoe brigader Keith Williams. Williams wanted track hardening of the Thorsborne Trail, rock walled harbours and other built infrastructure on Hinchinbrook Island - outside the resort lease.