• Labor’s proposed vegetation management laws set to inflict pain on agriculture sector

• Laws will cripple investment in high value agriculture

• Submissions to committee close 25 April 2016

Time is running out to make a submission to the committee investigating the Labor’s proposed changes to the Vegetation Management Act, that are set to inflict a new level of pain on Queensland’s agriculture sector.

Shadow Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps said submissions to the Agriculture and Environment Committee on the Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 would close on Monday 25 April, 2016.

“The LNP strongly opposes the Palaszczuk Government’s Bill, which is the most anti-farmer, anti-agriculture and anti-rural document ever presented to the Queensland Parliament,” Mr Cripps said.

“If Labor’s Bill gets passed, it will send a violent shudder through our agriculture sector and cripple the prospects of significant investment in Queensland’s regions with increased uncertainty.

“Although the committee won’t be reporting back to the Parliament until 30 June, public submissions must be submitted by 25 April and I urge all concerned Queenslanders to have their say.

“Monday 25 April is Anzac Day, a public holiday, so written submissions must be with the committee earlier than that to ensure they are considered.

“It really doesn’t leave much time for people to finalise their submission.”

Mr Cripps said the former LNP Government delivered much-needed, common sense changes to the vegetation management framework in 2013 and stood resolute to defend those reforms as Labor and the Greens geared up for another assault on the property rights of Queensland landholders.

“Queenslanders need to be aware the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s proposed amendments are more extensive and aggressive than simply overturning the LNP’s 2013 changes,” he said.

“They will inflict a new level of pain on the agriculture sector, which provides much-needed jobs and investment in Queensland.”

Written submissions should be sent to:

Research Director

Agriculture and Environment Committee

Parliament House

BRISBANE QLD 4000

or by email to: vminquiry@parliament.qld.gov.au