Environment Minister Murray Watt and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young speak to Energy Minister Chris Bowen during debate of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, November 28. Photo: AAP/ Lukas Coch.
Labor has struck a deal with the Greens to overhaul Australia’s environmental laws, but the Nationals believe it will impact farmers most.
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Labor is aiming to introduce laws that would better protect natural landscapes and wildlife while also speeding up approvals for major projects, which can take years currently.
“We’ve introduced a package of reforms that delivers stronger environmental protections, faster project approvals and more transparency,” Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said.
“I have consulted widely with stakeholders, holding 100 meetings, forums and roundtables since coming into this role five months ago.
“This is not a zero-sum game — we can and are delivering legislation that is better for the environment, and better for business.
“Every day we delay the passing of these laws, we see the environment suffer, and we see business and the community suffer.”
Environment Minister Murray Watt speaks to the media after the passing of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Photo: AAP/ Lukas Coch.
NFF president Hamish McIntyre said farmers had been left “bitterly disappointed” by the deal.
“As stewards of more than half of Australia’s environment, farmers understand the importance of doing the right thing by the land,” he said.
“They’ve also historically borne the brunt of complex federal environmental laws, often at odds with state obligations.
“That’s why the NFF has supported genuine reform, but not this deal.
“Our key concern is the announcement of ‘closer controls’ of ‘high-risk land clearing’. The specifics of this remain unclear, and we are urgently calling for clarity.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud said Mr Watt’s claims that the new rules must be enforced immediately to stop farmers clearing their land before they became law was “scaremongering” and “demonises farmers”.
“Minister Watt should know that there are already stringent state laws which prohibit illegal land clearing when it comes to our farms,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Farmers are deeply concerned about the removal of the ‘lawful continuation of land use’ in relation to clearing vegetation, which will mean any clearing of native vegetation regrowth more than 15 years old will no longer be exempt from scrutiny under law.
“Labor’s changes will only make it harder for farmers to actively manage their land and will promote poor environmental outcomes and increase bushfire risk.
“The misunderstanding of agricultural practices is bitterly disappointing, and it’s our farmers who are once again bearing the brunt of Labor’s complex federal environmental laws.”
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