August 16, 2016
The Queensland Law Society has renewed its call for the state government to amend proposed tree clearing laws, saying the passage of laws would be a travesty of justice for the state’s landholders.
On Tuesday, Society president Bill Potts said the Palaszczuk Government’s planned changes of its Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 were unjustified and a step backwards for justice in the state.
In particular, Mr Potts was critical of the Government’s plan to introduce a reverse onus of proof, making landholders guilty of any illegal tree clearing until they could prove themselves innocent.
“That is akin to a person coming home to find a dead body in their backyard and being considered guilty of murder until they can prove themselves innocent,” Mr Potts said.
Mr Potts said the Society acknowledged the need for laws protecting the environment, but not at the cost of legislated injustice.
“Our state’s natural beauty is one of its greatest assets, and it is our view that it can be protected without trampling the rights of citizens,” he said.
“It isn’t too late for the government to properly consult with all stakeholders and come up with just and workable laws; rushing them through as they are now is a recipe for chaos.”
The comments come as the Queensland Parliament is scheduled to debate the proposed law changes.
More than two months ago, Mr Potts addressed the Parliamentary Agriculture and Environment Committee in Brisbane to raise the QLS’s concerns.
At the time, Mr Potts likened the proposed changes to land clearing laws as being as unjust and comparable to the Newman Government’s stance on anti-bikie laws.
He said the proposed bill reversed the onus of proof to require landowners to prove their innocence, eliminated the defence of mistake, and applied the changes retrospectively.
“The government’s justification for these changes is, quite frankly, feeble and appears based on administrative convenience,” he said.
Mr Potts said it was ironic the government was proposing such changes, given that the recent VLAD taskforce report criticised similar provisions in the bikie legislation.
Related articles:
- MP Blasts ‘Unfair’ Tree Laws
- Labor ‘Not Listening’ On Tree Laws
- Reverse Onus Of Proof Scrapped
- Farmers Angered By Green Laws
- MPs To Host Forum On Green Laws
- MP Urges Farmers To Speak Out
- Deb’s Diary – Tree Law Amendments ‘Devastating For Farmers’
- State Govt To Reinstate Vegetation Management Laws
- LNP Vegetation Laws To Stay
