Western Australia’s peak conservation body has congratulated new WA Premier, Roger Cook, on his appointment while expressing its hopes for a renewed focus on addressing environment and climate issues.
Mr Cook was formally endorsed as WA’s 31st premier on Tuesday after the resignation of Mark McGowan, last week.
The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), which represents close to 100 member groups across the state, expressed its best wishes to Mr Cook in the role, while flagging the need for a ‘strong environmental leadership’ in order to protect Western Australia from ongoing biodiversity loss and climate change pressures.
CCWA’s Executive Director, Joe Heffernan, said he hoped that Mr Cook would provide greater opportunities for the council and its members to have their concerns addressed at the highest levels of government.
“Across the state, the story is the same – our members are frustrated by the wall of silence that often greets their legitimate concerns about the state of WA’s natural environment. This is in stark contrast to the access that wealthy industry leaders – particularly those in oil and gas – have had to the premier.
“Time is fast running out for us to preserve our most vulnerable natural landscapes and to stave off the worst effects of climate change. With notable exceptions, such as the ban on native forest logging, for much of the McGowan premiership, it seemed that the state government was listening to all the wrong people.
“With a new premier, comes the opportunity for much needed change and strong environmental leadership.
“We hope to work alongside the new premier and his government on the most pressing and vital environmental issues affecting our great state.”
ENDS
MEDIA INFORMATION: The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) is the state’s foremost non-profit, non-government conservation organisation representing nearly 100 environmental organisations across Western Australia.
For more information, visit: ccwa.org.au.
CONTACT: For any enquiries relating to this release, please contact Robert Davies
08 6558 5156 / 0412 272 570 or by email, [email protected]