Update – Friday, 7am: The Palaszczuk government’s draconian vegetation laws are dead.
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Labor failed to secure the numbers for its anti-agriculture laws in parliament last night, which would have stripped farmers of existing rights denied basic civil liberties, and according to farm groups delivered perverse environmental outcomes. Read more.
Update – Thursday, 6pm: The Palaszczuk government’s draconian new vegetation laws face almost certain defeat, with Labor turned independent member for Cook, Billy Gordon, issuing a statement this afternoon saying he could not support the bill.
Mr Gordon’s announcement follows a day of uproar in Queensland politics with Labor member for Miriani, Jim Pearce, earlier in the day saying he was considering abstaining from the vote. Read more here.
Update – Thursday, 9:30am: Both deputy premier Jackie Trad and opposition natural resources spokesman Andrew Cripps have spoken on Labor’s proposed new vegetation laws in Queensland’s parliament.
Update – Thursday, 7:30am: The debate over Labor’s vegetation management laws is expected to dominate the final day of the parliament sitting
The laws are expected to go down to the wire, with neither the government or the opposition sure of who has the numbers to win.
Both sides are locked at 44 votes each, with the Katter Party MPs siding with the LNP, while independents Rob Pyne, and, after some wobbles and a last minute deal, which included a promise to implement a Cape York Development and Sustainability Review, Billy Gordon both signing up for the yes vote.
It puts independent MP Peter Wellington, who, as Speaker, only has a casting vote in the deadlocked parliament, in the position of either making or breaking the laws.
Mr Wellington has met with both sides, including a late night discussion with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as the debate began, but is understood to be playing his cards so close to his chest, neither the LNP or Labor are sure of which way he will vote.
The bill is seen as a major test for the mid-term Palaszczuk government; if passed, the legislation will be retrospective to March 17.
The ongoing support of green groups is viewed as vital for Labor’s inner city seats including South Brisbane, held by deputy premier Jackie Trad, and Mount Coot-tha, held by environment minister Steven Miles, who rely on green preferences at the ballot box.
Debate began late Wednesday night
The controversial Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 was introduced to parliament on Wednesday night.
MPs were told on Monday afternoon the debate would start at 7.30pm on Wednesday. Discussions are expected to continue into the early hours of the morning and throughout Thursday.
However, the debate is now likely to be delayed until at 9.30, or even 10-10.30pm as the government deals with other business (click here for details).
Labor’s debate will be led by deputy premier Jackie Trad, who like environment minister Steven Miles representing Mount Coot-tha, relies on green preferences to hold her inner city South Brisbane seat. Opposition natural resources spokesman Andrew Cripps, who is the architect of the existing laws, will be returning fire for the LNP.
Farmers have been protesting the proposed changes to vegetation management laws, there have been 38 amendments to the legislation since 1999, with many describing the latest plans as “flawed”.
AgForce Queensland have been a staunch advocate for the rights of farmers, organising protests across the state and running a social media campaign to raise awareness about how the changes could impact the livelihood of farming families and businesses.
Queensland Country Life will provide readers with updates on the debate over the next two days.
The sure to be fiery debate will be streamed live on the Queensland Parliament website.
