NEW laws that give councils full control of the stock route network miss the mark by failing to put in place appropriate safeguards to ensure the stock routes are managed properly.
AgForce Cattle director Peter Hall said the 2.6 million hectare stock route network had been plagued for decades by issues such as overgrazing by producers, unmanaged weed infestations and an inadequate fee structure that meant infrastructure such as watering points were not maintained or renewed.
Read the earlier story ‘Councils handed responsibility for stock routes’`
"Most Queensland livestock producers will have used the stock routes network at some time in their lives, either for travelling stock during a drought or as a short term supply of feed in good times," Mr Hall said.
"Stock route reform is long overdue and AgForce supports councils having responsibility for managing the stock route network and we support all funds raised being delivered back to local government for investment in the network.
"However, AgForce remains concerned about potential inconsistencies across councils, including whether they'll allocate adequate resources and have the will to address issues like weeds and overgrazing.
"Effectively, the Queensland government is handing over the reins of responsibility to councils at a time when we know some councils have little or no interest in managing an effective stock routes network. That's why there is a need for the state government to ensure continued oversight of the network."
Mr Hall said AgForce had consistently maintained it could not support the laws until seeing a copy of the associated regulations.
"The regulations will set fundamental conditions like the fee structures and we know that for travelling stock, the Government is not proposing to increase this rate from the archaic and ludicrous rate of 1c/head/day first set decades ago," he said.
"Such a ridiculously low rate won't return adequate revenue nor does it engender responsible management of the network. In addition, fees for grazing authorities need to be fair and equitable, which is why we have suggested linking the fees to the rents and rates of adjacent land.
"A number of elements of the new laws are unlikely to be popular with some producers as they'll require new permits and new fees where the stock route network is used - but we were willing to support this as the aim was to ultimately deliver a funded and better managed network.
"While AgForce appreciates the laws are not likely to be implemented for several years and the final regulations are yet to be presented to Parliament, this first iteration of the laws has many flaws and we will be working through the committee system to address our concerns."
