PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused on turning her back on farmers battling Queensland's worst-ever drought and ignoring her own her government's own consultation process on vegetation management.
AgForce president Grant Maudsley said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was no friend of Queensland agriculture.
Mr Maudsley told a media conference in Brisbane at lunchtime today that a Beattie-style lock-down on vegetation management would stifle food and fibre production and growing demand for high-quality protein.
"Ms Palaszczuk promised to work with farmers when she first became Premier, but has since failed to deliver any certainty and stability, and failed to ensure the promised consultation,” Mr Maudsley said.
"This Government announced in Parliament on September 16 that they would convene a round table, including AgForce and green groups to discuss vegetation. The green groups refused to attend, and today the Premier has bowed to their pressure.
"The Palaszczuk government went as far as appointing a mediator. Given the government's announcement, there won't be much to talk about when the mediator next meets AgForce on Friday.
"With a record drought across 86 per cent of Queensland, now's the time for the Government to be supporting farmers, not making wild policy changes and deserting farmers."
Mr Maudsley said government research shows that more than 97 per cent of farmers are managing their land responsibly and lawfully. This is despite tighter restriction than many other industries, such as property development and resource development.
A recent AgForce report shows that vegetation management is occurring responsibly across Queensland.
"To blame farmers for carbon omissions on management of less than 0.2 per cent of Queensland is insulting and shows the Premier isn't focussed on carbon reduction," Mr Maudsley said.
"This is a knee-jerk action when we need stability and proper data to make a correct decision.
"If a producer is doing the wrong thing we support tough laws to prosecute," Mr Maudsley said.
"In September, green groups accused a landholder near Augathella of clearing his land illegally. It was investigated by the government and shown to be a false claim."