Landholder anger at the continued stalemate over tree clearing permits despite the defeat of the Palaszczuk Government’s vegetation amendments last month is festering in north Queensland.
The Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) Bill 2016 was defeated 44 to 42 in parliament, with the LNP opposition, two Katter Australian Party members and Labor turned independent Billy Gordon voting against it.
It was a win for landholders who had waged a comprehensive campaign against the government’s attempts to strip farmers of existing rights.
But a month on from the landmark defeat, landholders say little has changed.
Blair Knuth, Burdekin Downs, Charters Towers, applied for a tree clearing permit in January 2015, to clear land for dryland and irrigated agricultural development.
His permit has been initially denied, despite responding to countless requests for information from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
“All we have done with the defeat of the bill is take us back to where we were before they took the bill to parliament and that was when no approvals were being granted,” Mr Knuth said. “They are beating landholders on codes and they keep shifting the goalposts.”
Mr Knuth has a 4000 megalitre water allocation on his Burdekin River property and wants to develop it for intensive forage production.
“There are a number of landholders on the river that are in the unique situation of having water allocations and licences,” Mr Knuth said. “We just need permits to clear the land to use the water.
“Charters Towers is screaming out for economic growth and development, particularly given the downturn in the mining industry.
“We have spent hundreds and thousands of dollars on agistment and feed in the last two years, money which could have been put to infrastructure.”
Mr Knuth took a swipe at Ministers Jackie Trad and Stephen Miles for ignoring recommendations from the parliamentary committee, which he hosted on his property as part of the consultation process earlier this year.
“For them not to abide with any of the recommendations is an absolute insult to the members of the committee, both Labor and LNP, and to the people who gave up their valuable time and resources to present to the committee,” Mr Knuth said.
"Labor has chosen agenda driven policies rather than good science.
“We know there is a huge amount of money to be made through agriculture but the government is stifling it.
“I want to know why Labor is so hell bent on stopping agriculture.”
Land management consultant Peter Spies said the government had shut down vegetation management applications for high-value agriculture.
“There was no need to go to the floor of parliament – they are doing it through policy by stealth,” Mr Spies said.
“The Department of Natural Resources and Mines are using section 22 of the Vegetation Management Act not to receive applications as “properly-made” or “for an agricultural purpose”, despite all requested information being provided to the department, peer-reviewed applications from eminent soil scientists, land suitability and financial viability by suitably-qualified persons being conducted and the codes all being met.
“One landholder has spent in the order of $150,000 in soil tests and engaging numerous experts to prove up what is clearly flat, good agricultural country with deep soils, good texture and moisture holding capacity.
“I can say that despite the best available information including the department’s own previous agricultural suitability work showing areas as suitable at broader scales, they are totally ignoring good science that shows suitability.
“Basically, where there are native trees Queensland is closed for business in terms of agriculture.”
