{"id":34072,"date":"2013-05-22T21:13:57","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T11:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=34072"},"modified":"2020-12-18T13:38:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T03:38:19","slug":"new-vegetation-laws-restore-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/05\/22\/new-vegetation-laws-restore-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"New Vegetation Laws ‘Restore Balance’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington with Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps following the passing of the Vegetation Management Amendment Laws through Parliament on Tuesday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 22, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says the amendments to Queensland\u2019s vegetation management laws which passed State Parliament yesterday restore balance and mark “the end of years of neglect of the agricultural sector”.<\/p>\n

She said the passing of the Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill 2013 meant landholders could “get on with the job of providing food and fibre to Queenslanders”.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese new vegetation management laws represent the most significant reforms to legislation affecting the rural sector in decades, and mark the beginning of a new era of agricultural production in Queensland.”<\/p>\n

She said the State Government had struck a balance between agricultural production and environmental protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long Queensland landholders\u2019 record as strong environmental stewards of their land has been ignored, and they have been treated as criminals for undertaking routine vegetation management activities,” she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat trend ends today.<\/p>\n

“Prior to the election, this government committed to reducing the regulatory burden placed upon landholders by consecutive Labor governments.’<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said landholders would save time and money with the introduction of self-assessable codes for weed and pest management, fodder harvesting and thinning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delivering on our commitment to doubling agricultural production by 2040 for the people of the Nanango Electorate and all Queenslanders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps said the centrepiece of the new legislation was the creation of a new “purpose” under the Act, ie “to create new agricultural areas”.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill 2013 will allow these activities to occur to support the development of high value agriculture in appropriate areas with suitable land and sufficient water, while retaining key environmental protections,\u201d Mr Cripps said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not relaxing environmental standards, and landholders will not be able to clear land indiscriminately.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite alarmist comments from extreme green groups, the reef watercourse protections in north Queensland will remain in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe State Government will still monitor land clearing practices, and those that break the law will still be subject to tough penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key changes include:<\/strong><\/p>\n