Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018

Introduced the bill to reinstate clearing rights for high-value agriculture and irrigated high-value agriculture that were removed in 2018, arguing the vegetation management framework is unjust and harms farmers.

“The effects of these laws are unconscionable. I have heard story after story of the devastating impacts that vegetation management laws have had on farmers in my electorate.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

As Minister for Natural Resources, spoke in reply defending the bill as reinstating responsible vegetation management laws that existed before 2013, arguing agriculture thrived under Labor's previous framework and that over one million hectares of cleared land is available for expansion without clearing remnant vegetation.

“Labor's view, unlike those opposite, is that we can grow our state's agricultural sector and protect our environment at the same time.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing the SLATS mapping data was inaccurate, that farmers were not consulted, and that the permit process would be expensive and time-consuming for primary producers.

“These laws have a very real impact on Queensland farmers and on rural and regional communities. Unfortunately, the very people these laws will hit hardest were not even given a seat at the table when they were written up.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Moved the second reading as Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, arguing the bill reinstates responsible vegetation management to reverse unsustainable clearing rates, protect the Great Barrier Reef, and safeguard biodiversity while allowing farmers to continue essential land management activities.

“The current rate of tree clearing in Queensland is not sustainable. If this clearing continues, it will increase the rate of extinction of native wildlife; it will put jobs and businesses reliant on the land and the Great Barrier Reef at risk.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as minister, arguing it would undo protections for the Great Barrier Reef and increase land clearing at a time when Queensland needs to protect remnant vegetation.

“This bill is really a Trojan Horse. This bill is basically about broad-scale clearing. That is what this bill is about.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering on the government's election commitment to end excessive tree clearing and protect the Great Barrier Reef and its $6.4 billion tourism industry.

“We are today and this week undoing what those opposite should not have done back in 2013 when they tore down protections for Queensland's forests.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as shadow minister, arguing it was based on flawed science, lacked consultation with the agricultural sector, would devastate rural communities and property values, and gave enforcement officers excessive powers of entry.

“This bill breaks all the rules of responsible governance and, by doing so, breaks the Labor Party's election commitment to govern for all Queenslanders and not just the people in Brisbane who voted for it.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as LNP leader, arguing vegetation management laws have gone too far and are devastating farming families and regional communities.

“The LNP believes that the vegetation management laws in this state have gone too far.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill on legal grounds including retrospectivity, lack of compensation for loss of property value, and concerns about fundamental legislative principles.

“The rule of law demands predictability. A law that can be changed retrospectively is not predictable. Citizens should not have to endure capricious retrospective law making.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as Leader of the Opposition, calling it a brutal attack on farming families driven by green ideology. Argued the laws lock up nearly a million hectares, shut down new agricultural development, and were introduced without proper consultation.

“Labor's proposed vegetation management laws are a brutal and unprovoked attack on the farming families and communities right across Queensland.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill, sharing stories of farmers in his electorate who have been devastated by vegetation management laws and criticising the government's approach to enforcement.

“The vegetation management laws need a complete overhaul. I am proud to support this bill.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as reinstating responsible vegetation management protections that were dismantled by the LNP in 2013, noting the level of clearing since then is unsustainable.

“This legislation when passed in this parliament will provide protection to the Great Barrier Reef and also ensure that our state has a viable agricultural industry into the future.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Environment, arguing clearing rates had quadrupled under the LNP, threatening biodiversity and the Great Barrier Reef. Emphasised the bill reinstates essential habitat protections for near-threatened species.

“Today is a historic moment for the future of Queensland. Today we say to our children and our grandchildren that we care enough about your future to fight again for the protection of our environment.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill as a Green policy implemented by Labor, arguing it attacks regional Queensland and agriculture. Cited the Labor Party branch president in Mackay speaking out against the bill as evidence of internal Labor division.

“This is the most left-leaning government in Queensland's political history—this is a Green policy being implemented by a Labor government.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a committee member, criticising the lack of economic modelling, the removal of high-value agriculture provisions, unworkable codes for thinning and mulga management, and inaccurate SLATS mapping.

“It almost beggars belief that a bill with such widespread financial impacts on such an important sector of our economy, the agricultural industry, would be released with no cost analysis having been done.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to protect Queensland's biodiversity and environment, noting that Queensland was once again the land-clearing capital of Australia and that needed to change.

“The current statistics have us clearing over a thousand football fields a day. Just imagine that: a thousand football fields a day.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it would destroy agricultural production and push food and fibre growing to countries with weaker environmental standards. Highlighted that SLATS mapping cannot measure regrowth and that the Burnett-Mary catchment extension would impact his electorate.

“This bill might as well be called the anti-Queensland food and fibre bill, because that is exactly what those opposite are hell-bent on achieving.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill on several grounds including flawed data, enforcement powers greater than those of police, failure to model economic impacts on agriculture, and the mental health impacts on farmers.

“Any bill that does not take into account the impact on the growth of agriculture or the impact on the sector is flawed.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as committee chair, defending the consultation process and rebutting LNP claims about the codes being unworkable. Argued the bill was a crucial step against climate change and for reef protection.

“After conducting the consultation and hearings on this bill I did not hear anything to make me come to the conclusion that we needed to make any changes to this bill.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as driven by Greens preferences, arguing it would lock up 860,000 hectares of productive land and gave vegetation enforcement officers excessive powers without adequate oversight.

“These laws demonise, denigrate and will be destructive to agricultural industries in my electorate and across the state.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a committee member, citing the constrained consultation time frame, lack of regulatory impact statement, removal of high-value agriculture provisions, unworkable codes, and excessive powers of entry for enforcement officers.

“This legislation should not be passed. There is a lack of any meaningful consultation with industry groups and the broader community that the laws directly impact.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to protect the Great Barrier Reef and reinstate a responsible vegetation management framework.

“The Palaszczuk government is committed to protecting Australia's greatest natural wonder—the Great Barrier Reef.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a committee member, arguing it was fundamentally flawed and based on ideology rather than fact. Criticised the government for ignoring 13,000 submissions and for failing to commission any economic modelling.

“This legislation is fundamentally flawed and it should not be passed. At its heart, this legislation is based on toxic ideology rather than fact.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as crafted by green extremists to disadvantage farmers, arguing it is an affront to property rights that will diminish property values and reduce economic activity in rural communities.

“This is a bill that is an alarming affront to the rights of property owners and a threat to the economic future of families and communities.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, emphasising the importance of protecting the Great Barrier Reef for tourism and the economy. Noted the reef contributes $6 billion to Queensland's economy and supports over 60,000 jobs.

“The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's greatest natural assets. It is in our backyard and it is our duty to protect it.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as Deputy Premier, arguing Labor's vegetation management laws had historically reduced clearing while agricultural profits increased, and that the laws were critical to Australia's international commitments on the Great Barrier Reef.

“You can trust only Labor to get the balance right. You can always trust Labor to do what is right in terms of the environment and the agricultural sector.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Vehemently opposed the bill, arguing it would lock up 1.7 million hectares of developed farmland, undermine the Rookwood Weir agricultural development, and was based on flawed science as SLATS cannot measure regrowth.

“This bill is ill-informed, it is irresponsible and it will cause irreparable damage to the agricultural sector in Queensland.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill, speaking against it as an attack on farmers and rural communities.

“I rise today to speak against the Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, speaking as a city-based MP who had educated himself on the issue. Highlighted the mental health impacts on rural communities and the lack of genuine consultation.

“Imagine that someone comes to their property and tells them what they can and cannot do on that property without one ounce of compensation. That is simply not fair in anybody's language.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill, criticising the enforcement powers and impact on rural communities.

“Under section 60 of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act police have powers to enter and search a premises that are far greater and more intrusive than those proposed in this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, arguing the agricultural industry thrived under the previous decade of Labor's tree-clearing laws and that protecting the Great Barrier Reef was essential for tourism and future generations.

“Despite the fearmongering and rhetoric being peddled by the LNP, the simple fact is that the agriculture industry thrived under the decade of Labor's tree-clearing laws, growing by more than $2 billion in sector profitability during that period.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Transport and Main Roads.

“I rise to speak in support of the Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill on fundamental property rights grounds, arguing it violates freehold title rights and the Legislative Standards Act. Stated the bill was about appeasing green ideology rather than achieving environmental outcomes.

“The most offensive provision in this entire bill is without doubt clause 4, which seeks to amend section 19O. This provision seeks to remove the rights over the property which reside in the registered name of the owner's title and place those rights in the hand of the minister.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it would harm farming communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as an urban MP, raising concerns about the cost of development applications for vegetation management and the potential impact on housing affordability in South-East Queensland.

“One of the most ridiculous parts of this legislation is the intention to make every applicant wanting to take control of thickening vegetation to apply for a development approval under the department of state development.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as an attack on property rights and rural communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, arguing it honoured Labor's election commitment and was necessary to reverse the unprecedented clearing rates under the LNP government.

“Like all Labor candidates in the 93 Queensland electorates across Queensland, prior to the 2017 state election I made a commitment that if elected as the state member for Ipswich West I would support the reintroduction of vegetation management laws.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it was rushed and would harm the agricultural sector.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill but urged the government to adopt the shadow minister's compromise amendments on warrant requirements, deemed approvals, and the high-value regrowth definition.

“Today, we saw what this bill means to a group of people who have probably never been in a protest in their life, but they turned up today because it meant something to them.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Health, speaking about the importance of protecting the environment.

“I rise to speak in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it was solely about securing Greens preferences. Criticised the committee process and read testimony from a grazier who would lose 96.5 per cent of his manageable land under the proposed laws.

“Those members opposite have an ideological feeling about what they should do because they made a promise at an election to garner Greens preferences. That is what this bill is all about—Greens preferences.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it would harm farming communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as tourism minister, arguing the agricultural sector had grown under Labor's vegetation management laws and emphasising the 65,000 tourism jobs dependent on the Great Barrier Reef.

“I want to be on the right side of history on this one. I want to be able to look my children and my grandchildren in the eye and say, 'When mum was in parliament, she fought for the Great Barrier Reef.'”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it was unnecessary and harmful to regional Queensland.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it was driven by political appeasement of green groups. Criticised the expansion of category R to the Mary and Burnett catchments and the lack of hearings in his region.

“This bill will hold back Indigenous people from developing agricultural businesses to satisfy the environmental wishes of city dwellers and appease their consciences.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it denies economic opportunities to North Queensland and restricts sensible land management.

“There has been a sustained attack by the government on rural Queensland.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing the government was bullying farmers and that the negative rhetoric about the reef was damaging tourism. Highlighted impacts on Indigenous communities needing to grow fodder.

“Queensland farmer groups and representative organisations were not consulted about this amendment bill. It was rammed through within about a month if you take out all the weekends and the Easter holidays.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary environmental protection.

“I rise in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, noting the committee's recommendation to allow continued mulga fodder harvesting and increase regional extension staff. Emphasised the dramatic increase in clearing since 2012.

“I went to the last election with a clear commitment to support the Palaszczuk government's legislation to end broadscale land clearing.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Agricultural Industry Development.

“I rise to speak in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill on property rights grounds, arguing it would devalue farming properties, reduce council rate bases, and give enforcement officers more powers of entry than police.

“The minister is in here changing the law and stealing people's property rights.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it harms North Queensland communities and restricts land management.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, highlighting the mental health distress it was causing rural communities and calling on all members to reject what he described as an extreme anti-farmer agenda.

“The significant distress that this legislation is causing many of those people in their communities—mental health concerns—is unacceptable.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

As Premier, supported the bill as delivering on Labor's election commitment to end broadscale clearing.

“I rise in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, citing evidence from environmental scientists about the impacts of clearing on biodiversity, erosion, and the Great Barrier Reef. Argued farming cannot be sustainable without viable ecosystems.

“In the long run farming cannot be sustainable without viable ecosystems. It was the compelling science that convinced me that this legislation on tree clearing needs to be amended.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as an attack on property rights and farming communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill, describing the catastrophic economic impacts on rural communities in her electorate. Highlighted families already leaving Charleville and the impact on small businesses dependent on the farming economy.

“This legislation will cause catastrophic economic impacts on the hardworking food and fibre producers and the rural and regional communities in my electorate.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Opposed the bill as harmful to sugar-growing areas and North Queensland communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill in his first speech on legislation, arguing it threatened 6,000 agricultural jobs in his electorate and was based on flawed SLATS science that cannot map regrowth or differentiate weeds from native vegetation.

“I am absolutely amazed at the government rushing this bill into this chamber. Not allowing adequate consultation on such an important issue can only be interpreted as arrogance.”— 2018-05-01View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary environmental protection.

“I rise in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as the Greens member, though had sought amendments to strengthen it. Acknowledged the bill was a necessary step in the right direction on vegetation management.

“I rise to speak on this vitally important piece of legislation.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a One Nation member, arguing it would harm farmers and rural communities.

“I rise to speak against this bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill while calling for balance and an end to political point-scoring on the issue.

“I call for a balance to end political point-scoring.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as the member for Cook, speaking about environmental protection.

“I rise in support of the bill.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as an absolute disgrace that would see the loss of more jobs in rural Queensland and demonstrates a complete lack of planning by the government.

“Frankly, the proposed changes in this legislation are an absolute disgrace.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing farmers should not be lectured by inner-city elites, and that the bill was driven by Green preferences rather than genuine environmental concern.

“Everybody in Queensland needs a farmer.”— 2018-05-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as vitally important legislation while moving several amendments in Consideration in Detail to limit the scope of accepted development vegetation clearing codes, restrict area management plans to pest management and ecological restoration, and strengthen environmental protections. All amendments were defeated.

“I thank the House for the opportunity to speak to this bill, which we all know is a vitally important piece of legislation.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Moved LNP amendments during Consideration in Detail to retain high-value agriculture and irrigated high-value agriculture clearing exemptions and to oppose multiple clauses. Argued the government's amendments exposed the bill as rushed and poorly drafted.

“HVA and IHVA are at the very heart of what this is about today and certainly are of critical importance for those on this side of the House who truly appreciate the contribution that irrigated high-value agriculture and high-value agriculture play in this state.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

As Leader of the Opposition, opposed the bill throughout Consideration in Detail, speaking against ministerial discretion on codes and highlighting opposition from Indigenous leaders including Cape York Land Council Chair Richie Ah Mat.

“I stood beside Mr Richie Ah Mat, the Chair of the Cape York Land Council, as he said, 'We've only just got our land back and they are now taking it away'.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, arguing it creates uncertainty for property values and financial institutions lending to primary producers.

“One of the big issues out there is certainty; another is confidence. We are also talking here about property values for primary producers right throughout Queensland.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing ministerial discretion to change codes removes certainty needed for farmers to borrow money and invest in their properties.

“Giving the minister the ability to change things removes that certainty from them and puts at risk their ability to either borrow money and/or invest their own money in their land management practices.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, criticising the need for government amendments as evidence the bill was rushed and creating a moving target for farmers.

“Given the time that the minister has had to think about these amendments and this legislation, the government should have got it right the first time.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail as a rural producer himself, arguing the minister's discretion on codes does not provide the certainty farmers need for investment.

“As a rural producer you need trust and you need certainty around what is going on, and I am not certain we are getting that from this government.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, citing a constituent who was charged for clearing after departmental officers incorrectly advised the clearing was allowed, highlighting the danger of constant legislative change.

“My constituent was subsequently charged for illegal clearing which he thought was allowed, but the information had not flowed through to the departmental officers on the ground.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing it unlawfully removes property rights from landholders and places them at the sole discretion of the minister.

“This amendment seeks to remove the property rights that reside with the registered owner's title and place those rights in the hands of the minister, in my view unlawfully.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Environment, opposing the Greens amendments as undermining the government's world-class vegetation protections.

“We will always stand by our commitments to ensure that we have world-class protections for native forest and vegetation.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, acknowledging some merit in certain Greens amendments on fodder harvesting but arguing the overall bill was harmful to rural Queensland.

“I think that could be something that would ordinarily be welcomed, but it does not go far enough.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, supporting LNP amendments to retain high-value agriculture clearing provisions and arguing the approval process needed to be streamlined.

“We continue to lose prime high-value agricultural areas. When you lose that it has a long flow-on effect.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard

Opposed the bill during Consideration in Detail, arguing it was the Deputy Premier's vendetta against farmers and that the green army was moving into rural Queensland.

“This is nothing more than the Deputy Premier getting back at farmers across Queensland. This is the green army moving in to rural and regional Queensland.”— 2018-05-03View Hansard