Nationals Leader Matt Canavan has met the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and AgForce, as concerns rise about Labor’s first guide of the EPBC Act into Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Senator Canavan said farmers are increasingly worried the guide was cementing a new form of farm police.
“Labor has done a deal with the Greens to change our environmental laws,” Senator Canavan said.
“Those changes used the international treaty powers to expand these laws to cover anything a farmer does within 50 metres of a watercourse in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area.”
NFF President Hamish McIntyre said unless the government is open to amending the legislation, which industry continues to ask for, better pathways are needed.
“Our members are telling us farmers are confused, frustrated, and increasingly concerned about what these changes could mean for everyday farming activities,” Mr McIntyre said.
“Farmers should not be left wondering whether routine land management activities could expose them to regulatory action.
“We’ve made it clear to the government that the current approach is creating uncertainty. The government needs to listen to those concerns and work with industry on practical solutions, including investment in mapping, decision-support tools, and extension services.”
AgForce CEO Niki Ford said consultation only has value if there is a pathway to change.
“Where producers identify unintended or unworkable consequences, there needs to be a transparent EPA process for those issues to be assessed and for guidance, interpretation or regulation to be amended where necessary without fear of compliance actions,” Ms Ford said.
“Regulation that stops farmers actively managing their land can deliver the opposite of the environmental outcome it was designed to achieve. That is a risk we cannot ignore.
“These reforms have not been properly stress-tested against Queensland farming systems. An early independent review is essential to identify unintended impacts and correct them before they become entrenched.”
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Darren Chester said the EPBC framework was originally designed to assess one-off development proposals, not the cyclical and ongoing land management activities that occur as part of normal agricultural production.
“Farmers are now extremely concerned they are unintentionally breaking the law, with limited to no information to assist in making decisions,” Mr Chester said.
“It has resulted in genuine fears farmers could get taken to court and be put out of business.”
