Development of Northern Australia

1. SURVEY - Australian Fauna Extinction Crisis

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33% of survey complete.

Farmers Network are asking
1.That Government on all sides agree to reverse Australia's Fauna Extinction Crisis as a priority.
2. We are calling for a ban on large scale clearing for expansion of industrialized agriculture.
3. Investment for farm bio-diversity by creating, expanding and protecting all riparian wildlife corridors. Self Regulation is not working.
Currently: There is a Senate Enquiry into “Australia’s Fauna Extinction Crisis”. The loss of extensive areas of native vegetation is the main cause of wildlife decline across the world. The savannas of Northern Australia are internationally significant and ecotourism in these areas is a growing and sustainable use. Agricultural expansion in Northern Australia is inappropriate if the natural values of the north are to be protected.

Potentially, an area almost the size of Victoria, (including the damning of our wild rivers) will be cleared to make way for AGRICULTURE EXPANSION for Cotton, Rice, Sugar Cane and array of cash crops. These crops demand a high uptake of nitrogen, and water usage).

Refer: Website: www.csiro.au/en/NAWRA :The Federal Government employed more than 100 scientists at a cost of $15million, to investigate three priority river catchment areas across three states in 2.5 years, to enable expansion of irrigated agriculture. an area almost the size of Victoria These include:

* the Fitzroy catchment in Western Australia
* the Finniss, Adelaide, Mary and Wildman river catchments in the Northern Territory
* the Mitchell catchment in Queensland.

This survey is designed to assess your knowledge and opinions regarding the current and future environmental health of Northern Australia and how the "Agriculture Expansion" proposal may affect the current Extinction Crisis of Australia's Wildlife. (mark one response for each QUESTION).

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* Are you a

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* Your Contact Information

First Name *

Last Name

Address

City/Town

Postal Code *

Email Address *

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* Phone Number (Optional)

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* Comment

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* Are you concerned about Australia's Wildlife Extinction Crisis?

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* Were you previously aware of the Northern Australian Development proposal?

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* Do you think the government has adequately consulted the Australian people?

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* Would you like to see existing Australian farmers better supported by Governments rather than clear more land for large scale agriculture expansion?

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* Do you believe existing agricultural areas (such as the Mareeba/Dimbulah Region, the Atherton Tablelands, the coastal lowlands of the east cost of Qld and the Lockyer valley), could be improved and diversified to increase food production in Qld as an alternative to risking broad scale land clearing of native habitat.

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* Do you believe large-scale agricultural development and expansion, threatens the ecological integrity of Northern Australia including water resources, soil health, water quality and biodiversity?

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* Do you believe the government is doing enough to assist existing farmers such as offering subsidies for improving soil health, farm biodiversity & riparian areas for wildlife Corridors?

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* Do you believe the Government has a duty of care with ongoing legislation and enforcement of National Environmental laws designed to protect Australia’s interest in the vast bio-diversity of undeveloped wilderness, marginal scrublands & savannahs, with its diverse fauna ecology?