FED:Fed govt wins as cows quit Alpine park

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2011
FED:Fed govt wins as cows quit Alpine park

CANBERRA, April 12 AAP - Four hundred grazing cattle have been removed from the Alpine
National Park, four days after the federal government's deadline for them to leave.

The Victorian government had until last Friday to get the animals out of the park after
Environment Minister Tony Burke issued the ultimatum.

Mr Burke said on Tuesday the state government had complied, although he will be sending
department officials to the park later this week to double check.

But he still had some concerns, given the Victorian government has not agreed to abandon
its "so-called" trial altogether.

The Baillieu government has been scrapping with its federal counterpart since January,
when it reintroduced alpine grazing as part of a trial to reduce bushfire risk.

It saw 400 cattle herded into six areas of the heritage-listed park, more than five
years after the previous Bracks Labor government had banned the practice.

"My views on this issue remain unchanged," Mr Burke said in a statement.

"The Victorian government should never have reintroduced cattle to the Alpine National Park."

He urged Victoria to dump the tactic for good, noting that the government had "not
committed to abandoning its so-called trial all together."

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KEYWORD: COWS

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