Cheeseman slammed over buy-back option

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A war of words has broken out between Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson and Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman over climate change.
Sen Ronaldson called Mr Cheeseman “cavalier” and “embarrassing” after he promoted a potential land buy-back scheme for coastal properties at risk of climate change impacts.
But Mr Cheeseman hit back, calling Senator Ronaldson’s comments “dopey mischief-making”.
The stoush erupted following Mr Cheeseman’s address to an Australian Coastal Councils Conference in Torquay this week.
Senator Ronaldson said Mr Cheeseman had promoted the coastal land buy-back scheme to move residents off their properties.
“Darren Cheeseman and the Labor-Greens axis of Julia Gillard and Bob Brown must want to put the Geelong region on a course to disaster,” he said.
Senator Ronaldson called on Mr Cheeseman to clarify how much compensation would be available for compulsorily-acquired properties.
“Who will pay for the compensation to property owners and where are the properties Mr Cheeseman wants to compulsorily acquire on the Surf Coast and along the Bellarine Peninsula?”
The conference covered implications of population growth for Australia’s coastal regions such as risk management and quality of life.
Mr Cheeseman said land buy-backs for properties at risk of threats such as rising sea levels were a last resort option because of the cost.
“Senator Ronaldson’s comments are just dopey mischief-making, the very thing people don’t want from their political representatives,” he said.
“What we should be doing right now is focusing on prevention rather than cure and taking effective action against climate change through pricing carbon and putting in place a market-based mechanism to reduce carbon pollution.
“Our region will be one of the most affected by climate change and as a leader in renewable energy and product design and manufacturing there are a lot of trades, production and research jobs we can secure for our region from being on the leading edge of the new low-carbon economy.”