The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) is calling on farmers and members of the rural and regional communities that rely on agriculture as a major economic and social contributor to have their say on the State Government’s proposed changes to vegetation management laws.
Submissions to the State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industries Development Committee (SDNRAIDC) on the legislation close 12noon Thursday 22 March 2018.
QFF President Stuart Armitage encouraged farmers and members of the public to take the opportunity to have their positions heard and make a submission.
“Given the tight timeframe to get submissions in, people need to act now to ensure their views are captured by noon on Thursday,” Mr. Armitage said.
“Those affected should also register to appear as a witness for the Committee’s regional public hearings. Only by hearing directly from those Queenslanders adversely affected by these laws can the Committee better understand the truth behind this politically vexed and toxic issue.”
“It is essential that the committee listen to and consider the positions of those living in rural and regional Queensland. A failure to properly do this will only fuel the already politicised city-country divide.”
“If the Committee is fair dinkum, it will make recommendations to the Parliament that take into account the genuine concerns of the farming community to deliver the workable vegetation management laws farmers, regional communities and the environment deserve. If not, we will be back discussing this again in a couple of years’ time.”
“QFF has always, and continues to, advocate for a sensible vegetation management framework that properly addresses environmental, social and economic sustainability and provides much needed certainty.”
“Farmers, regional communities and the environment deserve stable, workable vegetation management laws. The proposed changes to the framework will not deliver this,” said Mr Armitage.
Registrations can be made for the following public hearings on the parliamentary website – days and times:
- March 27 – Rockhampton, 9-11.30am
- March 27 – Townsville, 4-6.30pm
- March 28 – Cloncurry, 1.30-4pm
- March 29 – Longreach, 8-10am
- March 29 – Charleville, 1-3pm
- April 13 – Cairns, 12-3pm