LANDHOLDERS appear to have been granted a temporary stay of execution from the Palaszczuk Government’s controversial Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (NCOLA) which was expected to presented to Parliament this week.
Labor is unlikely to table the anti-farmer legislation while ever independent Member for Cook, Billy Gordon, is out of action. Mr Gordon suffered a minor heart attack over the weekend and is unlikely to return to Parliament before at least next week.
His absense has exposed the fragility of the Queensland Parliament. As it stands the LNP Opposition and the Katter Party have a majority of 44 votes in Parliament compared to Labor’s 43 votes.
Labor is relying on Mr Gordon’s vote to pass the controversial legislation. If deadlocked, independent Speaker Peter Wellington would be required to use his casting vote.
Property Rights Australia chairman Dale Stiller made a direct appeal to the Katter Party and Mr Gordon not to support the NCOLA Bill.
“These laws include kicking people off long held grazing lease areas that were without assessment indiscriminately made into national parks,” Mr Stiller said.
“The Bill will certainly not deliver any improved conservation outcomes.”
