We all need to be concerned about the recent decision by the Labor Government to evict farming families from their long term grazing leases within national parks. One of these families are Kilkivan graziers, Ben and Teresa Day who have been farming the land for 140 years. Another is the Mayne family from Springsure, a certified organic operation, following the Global Animal Partnership’s sustainable code-of-practice. Their light, rotational grazing for three to four months a year ensures adequate ground cover while reducing hazardous fire fuel load. Plus they manage feral pests and weeds at no cost to taxpayers.
So what has brought about the decision to oust these primary producers from their leases and literally take away integral parts of their grazing businesses?
The Labor Government have introduced changes to the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment (NCOLA) Bill 2015 which say that the deciding power on whether leases are renewed will now rest solely with a department head - with absolutely no right of appeal for the leaseholder.
These changes will deny natural justice to the holders of 78 leases across Queensland, many held by farming families for generations. It takes away the basic rights and liberties of Queenslanders and is another attack on the agriculture sector.
The LNP’s Shadow Minister for the Environment, Stephen Bennett, has written to the Labor outlining a long list of concerns with the legislation, which also includes the loss of management input on traditional lands by local indigenous people, and the removal of all references about community use and enjoyment of protected areas, such as tourism.
Our LNP Opposition will be challenging this Bill, which raises so many concerns it absolutely should not be passed. On behalf of our primary producers, I will be strongly speaking out against the Bill. This is not about grazing livestock in pristine, World Heritage-listed national parks. This is about supporting on-going production from areas that have been grazed sustainably, in some cases for generations.
