LABOR LOCKING LAND UP TO LOCK IN BRISBANE GREENS PREFERENCES If there was any lingering doubt in the minds of regional Queenslanders about whether or not Labor and the Greens had done a preference deal to claw back seats in south east Queensland, they need look no further than yesterday’s Labor election campaign launch. The announcement by Labor that it will reverse the LNP’s balanced, practical and sensible 2013 changes to the Vegetation Management Act is a clear message that regional Queensland will pay the price if Labor wins and it will pay dearly. Few pieces of legislation introduced by the previous Labor Government were as oppressive, impractical and ideologically driven as the Vegetation Management Act (VMA). The VMA violated basic principles of private property rights, created extraordinary amounts of red tape and robbed regional communities of economic opportunities. In 2013, the Queensland Farmers Federation described the LNP’s changes to the VMA as sensible and sustainable, striking the right balance between providing new opportunities for agricultural productivity and the management of the environment. Yesterday, AgForce Queensland condemned Labor’s announcement that it would reverse the changes and asserted Labor was out of touch in terms of promoting a prosperous agricultural industry and what was required to protect the environment. As a regional MP, I have seen what Labor policies and Labor regulations do to farmers, agriculture and rural communities. We can’t afford to go back to the Labor/Green alliance. Regional Labor candidates at this election need to tell us if they really believe that farmers and graziers are environmental vandals - or if they are valued land managers and important parts of our local economies and country communities. I appeal to regional Queenslanders not to give Labor even half a chance of getting back into government, including through a deal with minor parties and independents as part of an unworkable and chaotic hung parliament. CANEGROWERS, AgForce Queensland, Growcom Australia, Innisfail District Chamber of Commerce Industry & Tourism Inc., Tully & District Chamber of Commerce, Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce Industry & Tourism, Townsville Chamber of Commerce
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:00:00 +0000
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