Qld: Beattie announces recreational policies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2006
Qld: Beattie announces recreational policies

By Rachael Langford

BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie may have been announcing recreational
policies today, but he's not relaxed about positive poll results published in a Queensland
newspaper.

Although the latest Galaxy Research poll commissioned by The Courier-Mail puts Mr Beattie
six per cent ahead of the opposition, Mr Beattie says the Labor government's research
paints a different picture.

"The reality is that our research indicates that people are very angry with us about
health, and that's one of the reasons why we are going to continue to roll out health
announcements," Mr Beattie said.

However, today's announcements were focused on lifestyle policies and a backflip on
developing a controversial cruise ship terminal at the Gold Coast.

A super-yacht terminal proposed for the Gold Coast spit has been given the green light,
but plans for a cruise ship terminal on the same site did not pass an environmental impact
study.

"We have very strong environmental requirements and those enviro requirements basically
indicate we will not be doing anything that will not work economically, financially or
environmentally," he said.

Policies introduced today include another backflip to now allow horse riders to continue
riding on designated tracks in national parks.

Mr Beattie also ruled out a ban on recreational fishing in Brisbane's Moreton Bay,
and $150,000 for free clinics to teach 3,000 children how to fish.

AAP rl/sd

KEYWORD: POLL QLD BEATTIE

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.