Australia's bushland needs investment NOT deregulation
14 Mar 2005
Recent calls by Federal National Party leaders to weaken land clearing laws were extremely irresponsible, state and national environmental groups said today.
The groups were responding to comments made recently by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson at the 2005 ABARE Outlook Conference and by Agriculture Minister Warren Truss in Queensland's rural press.
Any move to weaken land clearing laws would be out of step with the views of most Australians. It would also work against the long-term interests of farming communities, many of whom are already struggling with the painful legacy of unrestricted clearing.
"Land clearing is the main cause of dryland salinity and topsoil erosion. It is also the biggest threat to Australia's native wildlife and is a major source of greenhouse pollution," said Dr Barry Trail, The Wilderness Society's Woodland Ecologist.
"Land clearing costs the taxpayers of today and tomorrow," said Dr Trail.
The Australian Conservation Foundation's Rural Landscapes Officer, Corey Watts, said most farmers understood that they had a responsibility to care for the land.
"Most Australians want to help farmers to do the right thing," said Mr Watts.
The groups also welcomed a National Farmers' Federation proposal for a new investment package to promote wildlife conservation on farms.
"Many farmers need more support, including financial assistance, for sustainable land management. However, laws which prevent further clearing, particularly broadscale clearing, are a fundamental element of conservation and clean, green agriculture," said Paul Toni, WWF-Australia's Landscape Conservation Manager.
The groups said they were willing to sit down with farmers and governments to find responsible, sustainable ways forward.
The groups called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister to work with the States to end the haphazard and large-scale clearing of remnant native bushland, and prevent a repeat of past mistakes.
For further information and comment contact:
Paul Toni, Landscape Conservation Manager, WWF-Australia, 0410 086 986; or
Andy Ridley, National Communications Manager, WWF-Australia, 0415 865 992
