UPDATED: Last minute amendments to the Palaszczuk government's controversial vegetation management laws have been rejected.
The amendments proposed by LNP leader Deb Frecklington had been developed after consultation with the farmer groups AgForce and Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
However, despite opposition from both LNP and other crossbench members, the Palaszczuk government rejected any changes to its laws.
The controversial laws have dominated the three days of parliament this week.
Debate on the contentious issue will resume at 7.30pm after the government successfully moved that parliament sit until 10.30pm tonight.
If debate continues until that hour, the government is likely to guillotine the debate and force a vote. If not, the debate will resume when parliament returns on May 15-17.
The proposed amendments sought included:
- Reinstating High Value Agriculture (HVA) and Irrigated High Value Agriculture (IHVA) clearing into the development assessment process.
- Applications to undertake vegetation management practices would be deemed to be approved if not processed within 30 business days.
- Removing the powers of enforcement officers to enter a private property without a warrant.
- Altering to definition of high value regrowth from an area that not been cleared for at least 15 years, to an area that has not been cleared for 29 years.
- Reinstating Mulga and Fodder Area Management Plans so that drought impacted farmers could feed livestock unburdened by red tape.
The passage of the controversial laws has proven one the most divisive issues in Annastacia Palaszczuk’s time as premier.
A major rally was held by about 1000 angry farmers outside Parliament House on Tuesday.
With laws likely to be passed later tonight, Ms Palaszczuk is expected to receive a cool reception when she faces farmers at Beef 2018 in Rockhampton next Wednesday.