Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington today said she would fight tooth and nail to defend farmers and their property rights.
"Sadly, Labor have today launched an unfair attack on farmers, their families and farming communities right across Queensland," Ms Frecklington said.
"Labor’s proposed vegetation management laws are offensive and I will fight them at every turn.
"Instead of supporting farmers Annastacia Palaszczuk is tying them up in more red tape and threatening their ability to grow the food we put our tables and the fibre we put on our backs.
"I will do all I can to convince Queenslanders that this legislation is bad not just for regional Queensland but the South East as well.
"It will affect housing affordability, it will affect food security and it will make battling drought much more difficult.
"We need less emotion and more facts in the vegetation management debate.
"The fact is that over the last 3 years, since the LNP’s balanced vegetation management laws were passed, the clearance rate is 17% lower than the long run average.*
"Protecting the reef is vital but scaremongering about the impact of farmers is disgraceful."
LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and North Queensland Dale Last said Annastacia Palaszczuk’s new laws will make it nearly impossible to bring new land into high value agricultural production.
"This is a real kick in the guts for North Queensland where so many farmers are keen to grow more food for our state and for export," Mr Last said.
"Labor’s laws will mean we can’t supply more Queensland avocados, mangoes and macadamia nuts.
"They’ll mean Queensland will be forced to import more fruit, vegetables and nuts, even though we have the ability to grow our own here.
"Smashed avocado, mango salsa and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts are better if they come from Queensland. Clearly Labor doesn’t understand and doesn’t care about growing Queensland agriculture."
Ms Frecklington and Mr Last said a petition is now up at fightforfarmers.com.au are encouraging Queenslanders to download and share the Fight for Farmers video.
Download video here: http://bit.ly/2Fpnzfk
