Graziers To Lose Control Of Critical Land

AUSTRALIA - Hundreds of graziers across Queensland stand to lose control of 1.2 million hectares of critical productive land if the state government continues to steamroll over their own legislation to pacify a Green vote, warns AgForce Queensland.

18 November 2010

3 minute read

Oceania

AgForce CEO Robert Walker said stock grazing will be forbidden when current leases and permits expire on designated state forests from Clermont to the NSW border, under the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s plan to gazette this land as national park.

Although the government has offered to extend leases to allow graziers to get their business affairs in order, AgForce believes this is a token gesture that merely delays the inevitable consequence of this decision.

“AgForce met with DERM today to robustly challenge the government’s plans to wipe-out agricultural productivity under the guise of protecting biodiversity values,” Mr Walker said.

“We have caught them over-riding their own policy.

“The government intends to terminate state forest leases in a move which directly contradicts their legal obligation to offer graziers a new lease on the expiration of their current agreement.

On one hand the government’s own Wolfe Report review of land policy and administration in Queensland sets a clear mandate that security of tenure for industry leases is essential, yet the department is effectively removing certainty of graziers’ production, investments, and livelihoods with one stroke of the pen.”

Mr Walker said the agricultural industry was appalled to see the Bligh government once again give precedence to the mining industry at the cost of sustainable food production.

“The government is prepared to ban sustainable grazing when the forests are converted to national parks yet resource exploration and extraction will be allowed to continue.

“It is concerning that the state government has not considered the serious and widespread consequences to one of Queensland’s top three industries if this land is locked up. Their decision undermines the viability of producers and has a very real impact on rural and regional communities and businesses with a flow-on down the supply chain.”

Mr Walker said primary producers, like any business owner, require security of land tenure to make long-term management and investment decisions.

“DERM has failed to provide certainty about the extension or renewal of existing leases and are instead giving producers no option but to take a modified lease which removes their ability to manage the landscape sustainably into the future.”

AgForce continues to drive the issue on behalf of members, and will meet with Minister Mulherin and Premier Anna Bligh to deliver the concerns of primary producers.

“AgForce does not believe the conversion of state forests to national parks should take place and we urge the government to recognise that their intended outcomes will not be achieved.

“There is absolutely no benefit to the government, society, agricultural industry or the environment from this decision.

“The state government is prepared to lock-up food-producing land which is currently being well-managed against weeds, pests and fires by responsible land owners – and this should be a concern for every Queenslander who wants a well-managed landscape and secure, sustainable food supply.

“AgForce recognises that this will be a long fight and we ask all impacted graziers to throw their weight behind us to ensure no more productive land is removed from the sustainable management by food producers.”