Labor takes a big stick to farmers

Written by David Littleproud MP

Labor's new land clearing laws are a big stick to bash farmers when they should be rewarded for the biodiversity on their properties.

Labor has announced it will extend Queensland-style land clearing laws all over the country. The laws punish farmers for managing vegetation rather than rewarding them for the vegetation on their land.

Queensland farmers have staged huge protests, given they are having large parts of their properties made unproductive without any compensation or financial reward.

Labor needs to come clean on what carbon gain it has modelled from banning vegetation management nation-wide.

If Labor is getting carbon gains from stopping farmers making money on part of their farms then it should pay compensation. Labor should not take something from our farmers for nothing. If farmers are doing the heavy lifting for Labor’s carbon target, they deserve to be paid.

Taking away part of a business's assets and offering nothing in return is wrong. Labor has no right to declare farmers can't use a big part of their farms without compensation.

Labor wants to bash farmers with a big stick but I want to give them a bouquet.

That's why I announced a $30 million pilot fund to reward farmers for the biodiversity on their properties last week. I also announced $4 million for a biodiversity certification scheme and stamp so farmers can get a premium here and overseas for their product if they're looking after biodiversity.

Labor acknowledges the livestock sector is already going to be carbon neutral by 2030 and that farmers are already doing their bit, so why does Labor need a big stick?” Minister Littleproud said.

We're going to work with the MLA on their existing commitment for that part of the agriculture sector, the cattle industry… to be carbon neutral by 2030. We’re allocating $2 million to work with them on a red meat strategy on a commitment they’ve already made." (Sky News, 1/4/19).

Labor just thinks locking up farmer's assets is the way to solve its political problems.

But city voters understand our family farmers are in drought and can’t take any more, and that farmers grow our food.

Under Labor, Queensland state vegetation management laws are coming to a state and an industry near you.