GRAZIERS enduring one of the worst droughts in recent memories don’t need the Labor government tinkering with vegetation management laws in Queensland, says Member for Mount Isa Rob Katter.
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KAP member Mr Katter and member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth have warned the Labor government they will work to ensure current measures for land clearing remain in place.
Mr Katter said Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s calls on the the federal government to intervene with the legislation and offer changes to the state parliament aren’t helpful.
“The land clearing legislation in place at the moment is feasible for those in the North.
“It is imperative graziers across the state are protected, they should not be prevented from helping themselves,” he said.
“Only way we will support changes is if it is encouraged by the graziers and farmers.”
Mr Knuth is calling on the government to tread very lightly in regards to vegetation management changes, concerned the impact intervention may have on farmers and graziers.
The member for Darlymple said KAP will be using their numbers to block any moves for change in Queensland parliament.
“We will certainly be ensuring we speak to Billy Gordon and Peter Wellington to lobby against anything that will be pushed through,” Mr Knuth said.
“We are in the worst drought in 20 years, its up to us to ensure land owners have access to irrigation and have the ability do what they can to save their stock,” he said.
“Labor has another thing coming if they decide to cross that line,” Mr Knuth said.
Environmental group The Wilderness society says “huge swathes of Queensland bush” will be bulldozed if the Palaszczuk government doesn’t act quickly on its election promise to reinstate strong land-clearing controls.
“The LNP government paved the way for return to industrial-scale land clearing,” said Wilderness Society Queensland Campaign Manager Dr Tim Seelig.
The Wilderness Society said ‘‘environmental vandalism’’ under the previous LNP government saw approvals for the clearing of at least 113,000 hectares of Queensland bush for five projects, including Olive Vale and Strathmore Station in the Gulf Country, but there may be more approvals because this information has not been disclosed to the public.
