The Queensland Government has confirmed it will not extend emergency grazing measures in national parks beyond 31 December.

National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the six month temporary agistment permits for five national parks in North-West Queensland were provided as a crisis management tool in the wake of the former Labor Federal Government’s disastrous decision to shut down the live export trade in the face of worsening drought conditions.

“The Newman Government provided a lifeline to graziers by allowing emergency access to these five parks, as well as more than 400,000 hectares of QPWS managed land which will still be able to be utilised,” Mr Dickson said.

“This was a common-sense solution which has been widely supported by the Australian people and organisations including the RSPCA, Animals Australia and AgForce.

“While it was only a small part of our government’s ongoing response to the drought crisis, for the thirteen graziers who have been able to use the land it has been life-saving for their stock.

“We’re now working closely with these graziers to ensure alternative arrangements are put into place over the next two months.”

Mr Dickson said the Newman Government would continue to help drought-affected Queenslanders make it through the crisis, through a range of drought services including financial assistance, livestock nutrition and animal welfare information, and business-management strategies.

• More information on drought assistance measures is available at http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/environment/drought/assistance or by phoning 13 25 23.