• Queensland Parliamentary Committee unanimously votes against Labor’s proposed changes to the state’s stock route network

• Shadow Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps says Anthony Lynham must do the right thing and withdraw his flawed Bill immediately and set up proper consultation process involving AgForce and local councils

• Mr Cripps says it’s a major embarrassment for Labor after claiming ten years of consultation

The Queensland Parliamentary Committee charged with scrutinising the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s proposed changes to the management of Queensland’s stock route network has unanimously recommended that the Bill not be passed in its current form.

Shadow Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps said the Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee – made up of Labor, LNP and crossbench MPs – had unanimously agreed that Labor’s Bill was unfit to proceed through the Queensland Parliament.

“This is a major embarrassment for Anthony Lynham, who claimed when he introduced the Bill that it was the result of a decade of consultation with key network users and stakeholders,” Mr Cripps said.

“It’s extremely rare to see all MPs on a parliamentary committee – across the political spectrum – agree unanimously that a bill should not be passed.

“The Committee concluded the consultation process had been inadequate and insufficient information had been presented, which is amazing given how long the State Government has been talking about modernising the management of the stock route network.

“I call on Minister Lynham to withdraw this flawed and inadequate Bill and set up a proper consultation process involving representatives of AgForce and local councils that actually use stock routes in order to formulate a modern and practical management framework.

“Anthony Lynham must accept this feedback and withdraw the Bill until proper consultation can take place.”

Deputy Committee Chair and Warrego MP Ann Leahy said the Committee had heard widespread concerns about the stock routes Bill from a range of stakeholders during committee hearings held in Brisbane, Boulia, Longreach and Emerald.

“Despite a decade of consultation between the State Government and stakeholders about the need for reform of Queensland’s stock routes’ management framework, the proposed changes were missing critical supporting analysis and information,” Ms Leahy said.

“What industry needed to see was a draft state-wide stock routes’ management plan, draft regulations to support the legislation and an updated Regulatory Impact Statement, so the real costs and responsibilities of all parties could be understood.”