THE Palaszczuk government’s draconian new vegetation laws face almost certain defeat, with Labor turned independent member for Cook, Billy Gordon, issuing a statement this afternoon saying he could not support the bill.
Mr Gordon’s announcement follows a day of uproar in Queensland politics with Labor member for Miriani, Jim Pearce, earlier in the day saying he was considering abstaining from the vote.
However, until parliament votes on the controversial Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, the ultimate fate of the laws is still to be decided.
Landholders have already been cautioned that the retrospective March 17 defacto moratorium on clearing areas of regrowth that would be reclassified as ‘protected high-value regrowth’ under the draconian new laws is still in play.
Labor also still has the politically cynical option of suspending debate on the bill, giving it time to negotiate with Mr Gordon and other MPs.
Mr Gordon’s media statement was headlined ‘the balance is yet to be attained’.
“Today the independent member for Cook, Billy Gordon, ends months of speculation over which way he will vote in parliament on the state government’s proposed vegetation management legislation,” the statement reads.
“After months of consultation with a variety of people, groups and organisations around my electorate, and those adjacent areas to the Cook electorate, I am of the firm view that the proposed vegetation management reforms don’t strike the necessary balance between Indigenous economic development, protecting the environment and supporting our farmers.
Mr Gordon also went on to state that a vote against the proposed legislation is by no means an endorsement of the current legislation on vegetation management.
“Broad-scale tree clearing is not in the best interests of Cook,” he added.
“I continue to commit to working with the government and encourage them to continue to work with all stakeholders to find the balance, which I know is there and attainable.”
The failure of the bill would be a major embarrassment for the minority Palaszczuk government which, in concert with extreme groups including the Wilderness Society and the WWF, has vilified Queensland farmers. It would also likely to force Labor to reconsider the vicious attacks that have been waged on farmers, particularly by deputy premier Jackie Trad and her environment minister Steven Miles.
AgForce president Grant Maudsley urged all MPs to consider the devastating impact the laws would have on regional Queenslanders.
“This Government has been more interested in green politics than good policy,” Mr Maudsley said.
“All we are asking for is fair laws for farmers so we can grow our businesses and create more jobs for Queenslanders.
“These laws deserve to be voted down. Let’s start the policy development process again so we can come up with laws that have bipartisan support, that stand the test of time and that provide long term certainty to landholders.”
Property Rights Australia chairman Dale Stiller said Jim Pearce and Billy Gordon had both seen through the lies and deceit being peddled by the Palaszczuk government and its aligned green groups.
“It has been disgusting the way the facts and science have been misused throughout this debate in attempt to bring in legislation that is little more than extremist ideology,” Mr Stiller said.
