February 25, 2016
State Parliament voted on Wednesday night to keep Queensland’s vegetation management framework introduced by the LNP government, despite opposition by Labor and Green groups.
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Andrew Cripps said common sense had prevailed.
He said the LNP amendments to a motion moved by the Katter’s Australian Party received majority support in the Parliament.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is frozen at the wheel, beholden to extreme Green groups and unwilling to recognise the importance of the agriculture sector to jobs and prosperity in Queensland,” Mr Cripps said.
“Queensland’s vast agricultural opportunities are the envy of other States and the rest of the world is hungry for the food and fibres we produce.
“That’s why it’s so important we have a government in charge to support landholders’ rights, but sadly with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad calling the shots, that’s never going to happen.”
Mr Cripps said the motion “drew a line in the sand” that ensured the Parliament would not support any legislation that weakens rights of landholders.
“The LNP’s management framework is simple, it’s workable and it protects the rights of landholders from Warwick to Weipa,” he said.
“Labor’s motivation to scrap these laws is twofold; firstly to repay the debt it owes to Green groups and secondly to undo the work of the former LNP Government in a political get-square.
“Queensland deserves better than a vindictive government indebted to third parties with a short-sighted, one-track agenda.”
Mr Cripps said only the LNP was committed to supporting a management framework that was simple, that was proven to work well and fully protected the rights of all Queensland landholders.
“Unlike Labor, the LNP wants to unleash the potential of Queensland’s agriculture sector so it continues to deliver jobs and support our economy for generations to come,” he said.
