FARM group AgForce has launched a major offensive against the Palaszczuk Government’s proposed punitive new vegetation management laws, saying they will unrealistically retard the development of agriculture in Queensland.
Calling on Queenslanders to get behind the ‘Fair Laws for Farmers’ campaign, AgForce president Grant Maudsley said fair laws were essential to help farmers grow their businesses, create jobs and produce more food and fibre.
The campaign will include billboards, a dedicated website, social media posts and protest rallies to drive home the message that proposed changes to vegetation management laws “will do more harm than good and should be scrapped.”
The growing tension between Queensland’s minority Labor government and agriculture follows the introduction of the punitive Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) Amendment Bill on March 17.
The anti-agriculture bill was developed to appease Labor’s key green support groups including the Wilderness Society and the WFF, regardless of its damaging impact on agriculture.
The retrospective bill is currently with parliament’s Agriculture and Environment Committee, which is scheduled to report by June 30. The punitive laws are expected to tabled sometime during August.
“Queensland agriculture has the potential to grow from $17 billion a year to $30b over the next decade, delivering new jobs and opportunities in our regions,” Mr Maudsley said.
“But to grow, we need sensible land management laws. The Palaszczuk Government’s proposed changes to vegetation management laws will drive up food prices, shut down regional development and ultimately cost jobs.
“The laws would reverse the onus of proof making farmers guilty until they prove their innocence – a change that has outraged the Queensland Law Society. This would leave farmers with fewer rights than murderers and bikie gangs.
“Farmers just want a fair go. We’re calling on all Queenslanders to support fair laws for farmers.”
Mr Maudsley said farmers were sick and tired of being kicked around like a political football on this issue, with 18 major changes and 38 amendments to vegetation management laws since 1999.
“We want fair laws that provide certainty to landholders and stand the test of time,” he said. “We want fair laws that allow farmers to get on with the job of producing high quality food and fibre for Australia and the rest of the world.”
Visit: www.fairlawsforfarmers.com and join the social media conversation with #FairLaws4Farmers
