WHEN the Queensland government puts “garbage” legislation through a tight parliament it won’t be supported by the crossbenchers, Rob Katter said.
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“If it’s not good for Queensland we can flex our muscles, we can stop it,” the Mount Isa State Member said, following the defeat of the vegetation management legislation.
The legislation was defeated on Thursday 44-42. Member for Cairns Rob Pyne supported ALP’s legislation.
Independent Cook member Billy Gordon and LNP voted against, as did the two Katters Australian Party members, Shane Knuth and Mr Katter.
Mr Katter said in parliament that people living in remote areas choose to live in isolation because they enjoy living in the environment.
“(They) will care for it, at the very least as much as anyone else but probably in most cases more than anyone else.
“They are going to believe in sustainability and will want to ensure the best health of that land.”
Mr Katter said there were many flaws in the legislation. It would have halted development in northern Queensland.
The enforcement of the management of the laws also relied on heavily outdated mapping, Mr Katter said.
Mulga would also have been included in land clearing. Mr Katter said “it does not make sense” since it was used for drought fodder and grew back quickly.
Environment minister Steven Miles said that Queensland clears 360,000 rugby league fields worth of trees annually.
“On the national front, we are now responsible for 90 per cent of Australia’s land use emissions. It is not good enough.”
Dr Miles said the Species Technical Committee was considering raising the endangered classification for 21 animal species. Many of these were found in areas where clearing occurred.
“We also know that this land clearing is directly linked to declining water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. Loss of trees destabilises soil, causing erosion and creating the fine sediment that runs on to the reef, smothering and killing coral.”
Member for Burdekin Dale Last said farmers and landowners were not criminals or environmental vandals. “Our farmers provide the produce that not only feeds our families but generates jobs and income for Queensland...they deserve our respect and they deserve to be respected by this government.”
