Wild rivers inquiry to begin in Canberra

A parliamentary committee set up to examine Queensland's wild rivers laws will hold
its first public hearing on Thursday in Canberra.
The government announced the inquiry late last month to examine "issues affecting
indigenous economic development in Queensland".
The lower house's economics committee will hear from various commonwealth
departments and agencies.
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott introduced a private member's bill
into parliament to override the Queensland regime which protects pristine river
systems by limiting development.
Mr Abbott says the wild rivers laws infringe indigenous people's rights and deny
them economic opportunities.
The parliamentary inquiry will examine the Queensland legislation and the impact Mr
Abbott's bill would have if passed.
The Gillard government is refusing to say whether it supports federal intervention.
It wants to wait until the economics committee reports back to parliament in March
before declaring its hand.