The Queensland Parliament last night voted to protect Queensland’s existing vegetation management framework and maintain the hard-won property and development opportunities of landholders.
Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and local Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said despite the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s opposition to the motion, common sense had prevailed.
Mr Bennett said the LNP’s amendments to a motion moved by the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) received majority support in the parliament.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is frozen at the wheel, beholden to extreme green groups and unwilling to recognise the importance of the agriculture sector to jobs and prosperity in Burnett and Bundaberg,” Mr Bennett said.
“The Burnett’s agricultural opportunities are vital and we need a government in charge to support landholders’ rights.
“Sadly with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad calling the shots that’s not going to happen.
Mr Bennett said the motion drew a line in the sand that ensured Parliament would not support any legislation that weakens the rights of landholders.
“The LNP’s management framework is simple, it’s workable and it protects the rights of our landholders and growers,” he said.
“Labor’s motivation to scrap these laws is twofold; firstly to repay the debt it owes to green groups and secondly to undo the work of the former LNP Government in a political get-square.
“Queensland deserves better than a vindictive government indebted to third parties with a short-sighted, one-track agenda.”
Mr Bennett said he was committed to supporting a management framework that was simple, that was proven to work well and fully protected the rights of all local landholders.
“Unlike Labor, the LNP wants to unleash the potential of Queensland’s agriculture sector so it continues to deliver jobs and support our economy for generations to come.”
[ENDS] 25 February 2016