Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett MP and local primary producer Brad Newton are urging residents to join forces with local farmers to rally against the Palaszczuk Government’s proposed changes to vegetation management laws.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett is encouraging locals to join with landholders as they march the main street next week rallying against the Palaszczuk Government’s proposed changes to vegetation management laws.
Mr Bennett said it was important to stand side by side with farmers and rural industry groups in the fight against Labor’s proposed anti-agriculture vegetation management reforms.
He said the proposed changes were more extensive and aggressive than simply overturning the LNP’s 2013 changes.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s rollback of the LNPs sensible vegetation management framework will remove property rights, reduce the productivity of the agricultural sector and threaten jobs in our region,” Mr Bennett said.
“The former LNP Government’s common sense changes to the Vegetation Management Act meant Bundaberg and Burnett landholders could save time and money, while sustainably growing their businesses.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government plans to completely repeal the important High Value Agriculture and High Value Irrigated Agriculture pathways to development, threatening to bring Bundaberg’s agriculture sector and future economic growth to a screaming halt.
“Landowners will be stripped of their rights to manage regrowth vegetation.”
Mr Bennett said the protest march was an influential way for the Bundaberg community to come together and send a clear message to Bundaberg’s Labor MP that they object to her government’s amendments and how it will infringe on the property rights of landholders.
Local primary producer, Brad Newton, is one of many landholders in the region who will be severely impacted by the Labor Government’s reforms.
Mr Newton said the new laws would cost jobs, significantly devalue his properties and restrict the ability for farmers to manage their properties.
“As a primary producer and employer, I know how much regional Queensland is hurting, and I cannot understand how bringing in legislation that stifles a farmer’s ability to increase production or even maintain their properties and therefore create more employment, is in any way, a smart move,” Mr Newton said.
“Farmers are being asked to lock up their properties for the greater good, but no compensation for loss of value on their properties or loss of future productivity potential is to be paid.
“The rights of farmers are being totally disregarded by this very bad legislation, but apparently this government thinks it is ok to sacrifice the viability and mental welfare of people on the land, and to reduce job opportunities in rural and regional Queensland, as long as it wins them a few green votes.”
Residents are invited to join farmers and rural industry peak body AgForce at the protest march on Wednesday, August 10, which will commence at Buss Park at 2pm sharp.
The rally is expected to march up Bourbong Street towards the Member for Bundaberg’s office, and finish in Anzac Park.
An e-petition against the vegetation management reforms is also available at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petitions.
Residents are asked to assemble at Buss Park at 1:30pm for a 2pm start on Wednesday, August 10.
[ENDS] 03 August 2016