Last week the latest revision to vegetation management legislation failed on the floor of parliament putting a temporary end to what the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), its industry members, AgForce and a number of other industry sectors considered bad policy. QFF thanks the LNP and MPs Robbie Katter, Shane Knuth and Billy Gordon for defeating the Bill.
But what next? For too long, vegetation management in Queensland has been the subject of a political pendulum swinging back and forth on the whims of successive governments. And disappointingly, on the surface both major parties seem to be too eager to entrench their positions for competing political gains over good policy outcomes.
Recent comments linking the Bill’s defeat to a possible Great Barrier Reef ‘in danger’ declaration by UNESCO are concerning. Agriculture has a committed seat at the table to strengthen existing initiatives and implement new plans to protect the Reef. The major limitation at the moment is that governments are not doing anywhere near enough to realise the public expectations that have been set around Reef recovery.
While this might be good for political theatre, it is not good for agriculture or the regional and rural communities dependent on it.
For a long time now, QFF has been strongly advocating for long term stability on vegetation management because, as covered in this column some weeks ago, the investment required for the sector to realise its potential is dependent on certainty and stability.
The agriculture sector has an opportunity to set the foundations for long term responsible and sustainable growth. Investment will provide a major boost for the state’s economy and much-needed jobs for regional and rural Queenslanders. A stable vegetation management framework is one of the key elements to these foundations.
QFF has repeatedly called for the Palaszczuk Government, a self-proclaimed government of consultation, to conduct a genuine consultative process to achieve a position on vegetation management that could be supported by all stakeholders and may lead to long term stability.
A sensible, sustainable long term vegetation management framework must be founded on current evidence-based science and genuine risk. It must enable landholders to employ best farm management practices, reward environmental services and support responsible growth. The framework must be balanced and deliver a sustainable social, environmental and economic future for Queensland and its landholders.
With the public debate over, there is now a real opportunity for a responsible government to lay stable vegetation management foundations. After all, it is incumbent on governments to create and foster a stable business environment that enables short, medium and long term business planning, and encourages the investment required for responsible growth.
Both sides of the debate need to consider the detrimental impact the constant changes, and the recurrent threat of changes, to vegetation management is having on investment confidence in Queensland agriculture. Farmers cannot run productive, best practice businesses under the current political environment. The solution requires long term bipartisan support.
QFF suggests the next step is for wedge politics to stop and consultation with all key stakeholders to start. QFF and members remain willing to engage in open and constructive discussions with the government, opposition and cross bench to realise a long term sensible, sustainable vegetation management framework.
