Back to the future: Queensland-clearing in 2000. Photo: Angela Wylie
Environment groups have condemned changes to Queensland’s land clearing laws.
But the move has been welcomed by farmers.
Land clearing was one of Queensland’s foremost environmental issues, and previous governments imposed many restrictions.
The Newman Government says they went too far.
Tonight it is set to repeal regrowth regulations and letting farmers self-assess many clearing activities.
They will also exempt so-called high-value agriculture from land-clearing bans.
Less paperwork
Charles Burke from Agforce says farmers will welcome the changes, because they will reduce paperwork.
“This is simply a freeing-up of administration and making the red tape less costly and burdensome for us,” he said.
But Nick Heath from the World Wildlife Fund says they will let land clearing recommence.
There will be substantial new clearing, but clearing in areas we can’t afford to lose.
Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller was quick to evoke memories of the divisive debate over tree clearing.
“The Newman Government will be back on its D9s, back on its big machinery, ripping the guts out of Queensland,” she said.
But Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps says the changes do not allow broad-scale clearing.
“This bill does not return us to those days where vegetation clearing was compulsory,” he said.
The Government has also moved amendments to let cattle graze in some national parks.
Original story by By Eric Tlozek, ABC News
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