Submission To The State Development, Natural Resources And Agriculture Industry Development Committee Relating To The Vegetation Management And Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018

Proposed changes to vegetation management law in Queensland are burdensome red tape and an erosion of property rights.

This submission will refer to three major reforms included in the Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 that are representative of the broader red tape problem in Australia and the failure to acknowledge private property rights.

In particular, the abolition of ‘high value agriculture’ and ‘irrigated high value agriculture’ as relevant purposes for land clearing tip the balance of the laws significantly in favour of environmentalism at the expense of economic and agricultural development.

Development of land, while still complying with numerous other environmental laws, can create jobs and prosperity that outweighs the protection of native flora and fauna. The proposed laws are a further step away from a balanced regulatory framework between environmental protection and economic development.

The Institute of Public Affairs recommends that the Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 should not proceed. Instead, state governments should consider market-based solutions to meet environmental goals while also respecting property rights that allow private landowners to develop their land in an effective and efficient way.

To download the full submission, click here.