News

Petition launched opposing tree laws

Beef Central, 17/04/2016

AgForce Queensland is calling on landholders to sign a petition opposing new vegetation management laws in the State.

The rural lobby group says the new legislation takes away farmers’ property rights and jeopardise jobs in regional Queensland.

AgForce General President Grant Maudsley, who is the principal petitioner, said the petition provided a platform for Queenslanders concerned about the impact of the new laws to send a message to the Palaszczuk Government.

“These outrageous changes to the Vegetation Management Framework are completely unacceptable. The laws will restrict supply and drive up food prices, stifle development and cost jobs, and mean farmers are guilty until they prove their innocence,” he said.

“Farmers work hard to ensure they manage their land sustainably and they need security and certainty for investment. These laws take away that certainty and economic security.

“I would encourage all Queenslanders concerned about regional jobs and the price of food to show their support for Queensland farmers and landholders whose livelihoods will be affected by the Palaszczuk Government’s disastrous new laws.”

Mr Maudsley said the petition was launched by Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Andrew Cripps in Townsville on Sunday and hard copies would be circulated across Queensland.

“The petition requests the Queensland Parliament not to support the new vegetation management legislation in its current form and to reject amendments that would water down existing property rights and remove opportunities for sustainable agricultural production,” he said.

A copy of the e-petition can be found at: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petitions  The petition closes on Friday 12 August 2016.

Background:

  • The Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill was introduced into the Queensland Parliament on 17 March 2016.
  • The Bill has been referred to the Agriculture and Environment Parliamentary Committee for consideration with a report due back by 30 June 2016.
  • The Bill removes High Value Agriculture and Irrigated High Value Agriculture from the Vegetation Management Framework which restricts farmers’ opportunities to grow fodder and grain.
  • It also re-introduces the reverse onus of proof and takes away the ‘mistake of fact’ defence, meaning farmers are presumed guilty until proven innocent.
  • The Bill also includes High Value Regrowth (Category C) as an additional layer of regulation under the Vegetation Management Framework on leasehold, freehold and indigenous land and extends Category R vegetation (regrowth watercourse areas) to three new Great Barrier Reef catchments.

Source: AgForce 

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Comments

  1. Dorothy Smith, 19/04/2016

    Lowers production for farmers. Will send them bankrupt

  2. Rhonda Stark, 18/04/2016

    I oppose the vegetation management legislation as the work of out of touch Labor meddlers hell bent on entangling farmers with their red tape bureaucracy

  3. Elly Scells, 18/04/2016

    This is unconstitutional. Disgraceful

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