March 9, 2017
The Parliamentary Committee reviewing the State Government’s proposed changes to the management of Queensland’s stock route network has unanimously recommended the Bill not be passed in its current form.
Shadow Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps said the Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee – which is made up of Labor, LNP and crossbench MPs – had unanimously agreed that the Bill should not proceed through Parliament.
“This is a major embarrassment for (Natural Resources Minister) Anthony Lynham, who claimed when he introduced the Bill that it was the result of a decade of consultation with key network users and stakeholders,” Mr Cripps said.
“It’s extremely rare to see all MPs on a parliamentary committee – across the political spectrum – agree unanimously that a Bill should not be passed.
“The Committee concluded the consultation process had been inadequate and insufficient information had been presented, which is amazing given how long the State Government has been talking about modernising the management of the stock route network.
“I call on Minister Lynham to withdraw this flawed and inadequate Bill and set up a proper consultation process involving representatives of AgForce and local councils that actually use stock routes in order to formulate a modern and practical management framework.
“Anthony Lynham must accept this feedback and withdraw the Bill until proper consultation can take place.”
