FARMERS say they are the true environmentalists following a protest outside Parliament House in Brisbane and on social media this morning.
Both physical and virtual rallies were held to protest against new vegetation management laws the Palaszczuk government is expected to ram through the parliament this week.
AgForce president Grant Maudsley said farmers needed to manage vegetation on their land to sustainably produce food and fibre.
He said the flawed laws would shut down new agricultural development and deliver worse not better outcomes for the environment.
"Farmers just want to get on with their jobs and are so frustrated, angry and bitterly disappointed the Palaszczuk government continues to ignore the social and economic impact these laws will have on our lives, our livelihoods and our regional communities," Mr Maudsley said.
He said it was incredibly heartening to see the sea of green on social media from people of all walks of life from all over Queensland joining with farmers to say enough is enough.
Farmers are so frustrated, angry and bitterly disappointed the Palaszczuk government continues to ignore the social and economic impact these laws will have on our lives, our livelihoods and our regional communities.
- Grant Maudsley
"Vegetation management has been a divisive issue for two decades and we can't keep going on like this,” Mr Maudsley said.
“Our food is too important to be caught up in politics. If farmers can't feed their own families, they can't feed yours.
"This is not the end, this is just the beginning. Today's outpouring of emotion and support on social media should send a strong message to the Palaszczuk Government.
"We are going to keep fighting until we get fair and balanced laws that are good for agriculture, good for the environment and don't strangle farmers in red tape. We're all in this together, we all eat food and we all care for the environment."
Speakers at the Parliament House rally highlighted the fact that good agricultural land was constantly being lost - to urban development, to mining and to conservation, meaning less food and fibre will be grown in Queensland.
"Queensland is currently the number one agricultural producing state in the country, yet these harsh and unnecessary laws threaten the future of our farming families and our entire industry," he said.
