Land-clearing laws: Ekka protest aims to ringbark ban

UPDATE: About 300 farmers have marched through Brisbane city today in an Ekka eve protest against State Government laws they claim are unfair, with some travelling eight hours for the march.

The 300-strong crowd were protesting against land clearing laws. Pic: Liam Kidston

QUEENSLAND farmers marched through Brisbane city today in protest against the State Government’s controversial vegetation management laws.

About 300 people travelled from country Queensland, some farmers driving over eight hours, to be part of the rally.

Police escort the crowd through Brisbane streets. Pic: Liam Kidston

Carrying signs reading “No Farmers, No Food” and “Fair Laws For Farmers”, the march started at Queens Park and the chanting crowd passed a handful of environmental activists along George St who were holding signs in favour of the laws.

Organised by farming lobby AgForce, the protest was the first time farmers had taken the Fair Laws for Farmers campaign into the city.

AgForce claims the new laws will make it harder for farmers to work the land, mean fewer jobs and increase the price of produce.

“We haven’t asked for a roll-back of major laws, we just want to grow some crops, a bit of high value agriculture and grow our businesses,” Agforce president Grant Maudsley said.

Farmers’ children joined the march through Brisbane. Pic: Madura McCormack

He said the Katter Party had shown their support but he was still waiting to hear from independent MPs Rob Pyne and Billy Gordon to support blocking the bill although he was confident that at least Gordon was onboard.

“They (Katter Party) are on side. They’re fine, they’re with us,” Mr Maudsley said.

“We need Billy Gordon. The feedback from his community is that there is no one telling him he should pass the laws as they exist.”

Protesters march through the CBD. Pic: Liam Kidston

Mr Maudsley said the protest was timed to coincide with the Royal Brisbane Show, which starts on Friday, because of the number of farmers and their families visiting Brisbane.

Environment Minister Steven Miles recently called out AgForce for “politicising” the Ekka and organising the rally one day before the Royal Show’s official opening.

Some farmers travelled eight hours to make the march. Pic: Liam Kidston

OVERNIGHT: Farmers’ protest over tree clearing

PRESSURE is mounting on crossbenchers to reject a State Government tree clearing crackdown as farmers today stage an Ekka protest through the city centre.

Hundreds will use the start of the iconic show to march on Parliament House just as independent and minor party MPs receive an 11-page letter outlining why they should throw out the laws opposed by many in regional Queensland.

ESTIMATES: Tree laws branded hypocritical

The Government said it had a clear election mandate to tighten tree clearing legislation, but it needs the support of every other crossbench MP after Katter’s Australian Party MP Robbie Katter sided with the LNP to oppose the move. Each has now received a dossier from Property Rights Australia arguing the laws are unnecessary because tree cover has increased, and unfair because they reverse the onus of proof for landholders accused of illegal clearing.

Cattle farmer Dale Stiller is against tighter tree-clearing legislation.

It says people’s livelihoods could be destroyed by unfounded prosecutions where authorities relied on incorrect mapping, former residents had cleared the land or a landholder had cleared weeds only.

The group’s chair Dale Stiller, who runs a cattle, fodder crop and timber business south of Wandoan, said the farming community had a clear message at today’s rally, organised by AgForce and supported by the Opposition.

“These areas are areas designed for agriculture, not national parks and families are required to make a living off them while increasing productivity to meet future food security of our nation.”

But Environment Minister Steven Miles said it was “a shame” the LNP was “using farmers for their own political advantage”.

“While I appreciate there are strong views across the state, I think most Queenslanders would agree 300,000ha a year of clearing is extreme and unacceptable.

“At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves do we want our kids to know what it’s like to see a koala or a cassowary in the wild.”