Blood and offal flows freely in Gold Coast and other Queensland canals and rivers thanks to the continued inaction of our MP’s.

The Greens candidate for Surfers Paradise Dean Hepburn wrote to Premier Beattie two years ago yet all relevant state departments who responded have continued to pass the buck.

‘Both the Department of Environment and Department of Fisheries and Natural Resources said that throwing blood and offal into local canals and rivers wasn’t their problem’ said Mr. Hepburn, a consulting Environmental Scientist.

'I then wrote to Surfers Paradise Liberal MP John-Paul Langbroek who said he wanted to help but has since done absolutely nothing’.

Last January (2006) tourist Sarah Whiley was killed by a shark at Stradbroke Island after fishermen were seen throwing a quantity of blood, guts and fish frames into the water.

“Her death was preventable. If the authorities had implemented berley exclusion zones for recreational areas, as I have been pushing for a few years now, then she may still be alive’ Said Mr. Hepburn.

‘Now we are coming back into our major tourist season and shark fishermen are still allowed to dump buckets of blood and guts into the waterways where many people will undertake recreational activities this summer. It’s a recipe for disaster yet nothing will be done. It’s typical of our politicians. I’m sick of it. That’s one of the reasons why I am standing for election in Surfers Paradise’.

‘It is absolutely essential that we get berley exclusion zones where people regularly undertake recreational activities. One tragedy is too many and too late’ Said Mr. Hepburn.

Contact: Dean Hepburn, Greens Candidate for Surfers Paradise 5564 0158 or 5588 9365.