SOUTH East Queensland landholders have expressed concern over how the Palaszczuk Labor Government's proposed changes to the Vegetation Management Act may impact on the region.
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Beaudesert MP, Jon Krause, said he organised information forums for farmers and landowners in Beaudesert and Aratula today (Thursday) to learn more about Labor's aggressive amendments to the vegetation management framework.
The meetings were also attended by Opposition agriculture spokesperson Deb Frecklington and Opposition natural resources spokesman Andrew Cripps.
"Alarmingly, some landholders are telling me the restrictions on their properties are significantly greater than under the previous Bligh Labor Government - such as regrowth being reclassified as remnant vegetation - the maps are a mess," Mr Krause said.
Mrs Frecklington said she believed that the current vegetation management framework put in place by the former LNP Government in 2013, needed to remain in place as it provided opportunities for agriculture to grow.
"Farmers and landowners need certainty to be able to plan for the future and while Labor's proposed amendments certainly put roadblocks in front of agriculture, the constant chopping and changing is also a serious concern" Mrs Frecklington said.
Opposition natural resources spokesman Andrew Cripps said the LNP was committed to defending high value agriculture approvals, securing regrowth vegetation for freehold property owners and maintain the flexibility of self assessable codes.
"Given the Palaszczuk Government's proposed legislation is retrospective and seeks to reinstate the reversal of the onus of proof, the LNP will also be fighting hard to prevent farmers and landholders being treated like criminals," Mr Cripps said.
Mr Krause said it was also alarming that the Palaszczuk Government's new vegetation laws were being introduced without proper consultation or any real compensation.
