“Today the Senate passed a motion raised by Senator Barnaby Joyce and Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald which called for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, to accede to the Emergency Listing Request made by the interest group PADYC for the Cairns Yacht Club under the National Heritage guidelines.

“The motion noted that a petition of 10 300 signatures was presented on behalf of Cairns and the greater QLD community to stop the demolition of the National Trust listed (Endangered Building) and National Estate registered Cairns Yacht Club building.

“To date, the absence of any action from the Minister is a clear sign that Labor is failing to recognise and act upon significant community issues.

“Senator Joyce commends the efforts of the people of Cairns to fight for the protection of this historic building and will continue to support the amnesty of this architecturally significant part of the history of Cairns

Ends