ONLY days after the Palaszczuk government introduced controversial new vegetation management laws, Labor-aligned extreme green groups again have farmers in their sights.
This time the property map of assessable vegetation (PMAVs) system is under attack with extreme green claiming up to a quarter of land certified by the Department of Natural Resources as Category X should not be able to be touched by farmers.
Certified PMAVs have been heavily promoted by both the Queensland Government and farm groups as a means of providing certainty to landholders. PMAVs determine the location and extent of the areas of regulated vegetation, effectively locking in which areas can and can’t be cleared.
An application for a PMAV costs landholders $434 and often required significant effort in correcting errors in Queensland government mapping before an agreement can be reached.
However, extreme green groups bolstered by the Palaszczuk government’s anti-farmer stance are determined to take the already restrictive legislation further.
Leading the attack is WWF campaigner Martin Taylor who says vast land areas are mapped under PMAVs.
“This accounts for nearly two-thirds of all clearing,” Mr Taylor said.
“While many exempt areas are shrubby regrowth, at least a quarter of these are advanced secondary forest that should not be exempt.
“Unfortunately, landholders can lock-in exemptions just by requesting a certified property map.”
LNP opposition agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett said activists would continue to employ an arsenal of stand over tactics, misrepresentation, emotive and over the top language, exaggerated data, and questionable science to push their destructive agenda.
“Let there be no misunderstanding. They will not stop, and will push for more draconian, destructive and extensive restrictions,” Mr Perrett said.
“They will stop at nothing to get their own way and make the Labor government dance to their tune.”
“I am extremely concerned that already three conservation groups have let the cat of out the bag and suggested that these changes are only the start.”