Politicians need to get out of the road of hardworking farming families and let them provide for the state.
That’s the message Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett took to State Parliament today when he spoke out against Labor’s proposed Vegetation Management laws.
Mr Bennett argued that farmers were responsible environmentalists who could be trusted to sustainably manage their properties.
“Landowners know their livelihoods depend on environmentally sustainable practices. They certainly don’t need city-based bureaucrats, professional politicians or coastal activists to tell them how to do their job,” Mr Bennett said.
“The reason why land clearing has not been occurring at reckless rates under laws enacted previously is because farmers know how to get the most out of their land in the least destructive way.”
Mr Bennett told Parliament that the proposed laws threatened agricultural development in regional Queensland and would drive up the price of produce.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s approach is not fair to thousands of Queensland farmers who have invested in their land, livestock and farming equipment with the clear expectation of being able to manage their properties to generate returns to pay their bills and service borrowing costs, as in any normal business enterprise,” he said.
“Locking up farmland may make the lefties feel good but it will make life much harder for our farmers. Nor will it put food on the tables of families already struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
“At a time when Queensland needs sustainable growth opportunities, particularly in regional areas which have suffered prolonged drought and loss of employment opportunities, we are concerns that farm management and development projects would be stymied by Labor’s proposed Bill.”
Mr Bennett vowed to protect landholders’ rights to manage their own land and fight against the laws.
Wednesday, May 2 2018