120 concerned farmers and landowners from the South Burnett and further afield gathered in Kingaroy on Thursday 5th May to discuss how the Labor Government's proposed changes to the Vegetation Management Act may impact on them, as the LNP's campaign against Labor's anti-rural policy begins to ramp up.
Member for Nanango MP, Deb Frecklington, organised the information forum in Kingaroy so landowners could learn more about how Labor's aggressive amendments to the vegetation management framework will affect their farm businesses.
"In conjunction with the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Andrew Cripps, I wanted to help my constituents get a better understanding of what the Labor Government's bill means for their properties going forward" Mrs Frecklington said.
"Right across the region, landholders are reporting the new restrictions on their properties being greater than under the previous Bligh Labor Government - in particular regrowth being reclassified as remnant vegetation and Category R vegetation being regulated for the first time.
“I would really like to thank everyone who took the time to attend and we appreciated the number of excellent questions and interest shown by local land managers,” she said.
Deb said the current vegetation management framework put in place by the former LNP Government in 2013 provided opportunities for Queensland's agriculture to grow and she strongly believe that it should stay in place.
"The LNP is committed to defending high value agriculture approvals, securing regrowth vegetation for freehold property owners and treating landholders with fairness - this is a critical issue for farmers across Queensland, including farmers in my electorate of Nanango" Mrs Frecklington said.
Shadow Natural Resources Minister, Andrew Cripps, said given the Palaszczuk Government's proposed legislation was retrospective and sought to reinstate the reversal of the onus of proof, the LNP would fight hard to prevent farmers and landholders being treated like criminals.
"Queensland farmers and landowners need certainty to be able to plan for the future, just like any other industry and while Labor's proposed amendments certainly put significant roadblocks in front of agriculture, the constant chopping and changing is also a serious concern" said Mr Cripps.
Mr Cripps said Labor's Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill had been introduced without any consultation, any compensation, or any common sense and he was worried about the accuracy of new maps being issued based on the proposed amendments.
Photo: Standing room only at the Kingaroy Vegetation Management Laws forum in Kingaroy on 5 May
