Petition To Fight Vegetation Bill

April 17, 2016

An E-Petition has been launched by AgForce Queensland general president Grant Maudsley against the State Government’s proposed vegetation management changes.

The online petition claims the amendments contained in the “Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill” will have a negative impact on landholders’ property rights, agricultural sector productivity and jobs in regional communities.

“Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to not support the Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill in its current form and reject any amendments that would water down existing property rights, remove opportunities for sustainable agricultural production, or jeopardise job creation in regional communities.”

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington called on the South Burnett community to sign the petition to register their protest against Labor’s plans.

“This petition is an easy yet influential way for the Nanango electorate community to send a message that they object to Labor’s amendments and explain the negative impact they will have on landholders across the State,” Mrs Frecklington said.

She said Labor’s amendments were more extensive than simply overturning the LNP’s 2013 changes.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government plans to completely repeal the important High Value Agriculture and High Value Irrigated Agriculture pathways to development, threatening to bring the agriculture sector and future economic growth to a screaming halt,” she said.

“Freehold and indigenous freehold landowners will be stripped of their rights to manage regrowth vegetation and restrictions on vegetation management near watercourses will extend even further than ever before.

“Landholders will also be considered guilty until proven innocent with the reinstatement of the reversal of the onus of proof and ‘mistake of fact’ will no longer be considered a defence for alleged offences involving vegetation management activities.”