Farming on death row after Labor’s Enviro Bill passes

State KAP leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto and Hill MP Shane Knuth have condemned Labor’s passing of the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill.

KATTER’S Australian Party (KAP) MPs have lashed the State Labor Government for kowtowing to green extremists after the farm destroying Environmental Protection Amendment Bill was passed in parliament this afternoon.

KAP State Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto and Hill MP Shane Knuth were united in their fury, vowing to repeal the new legislation in the first 100 days of the next parliament if the party found itself in a commanding position to help form government after the 2020 State election.

“Today, we have seen the true extent of this State Labor Government’s hatred for farming in Queensland,” Mr Katter said.

“Despite near universal condemnation of this Bill by farmers and industry bodies across the state, Labor have arrogantly ignored their pleas and instead decided to push ahead with these ridiculous new Reef regulations that are totally unnecessary.

“Rural and regional Queenslanders have long memories and they will not forget this act of treachery by Labor at the ballot box come election time.”
Mr Dametto said the Bill’s passing would leave farmers struggling to survive on the land.

“This legislation will only tie farmers up in unworkable green tape. It undermines existing efforts by growers to improve water quality, imposes Big Brother-style supervision over everyday farming decisions and hobbles the cane industry’s ability to expand,” he said.

“This type of scrutiny is over the top and demonises farmers for no other reason than to appease green extremists in Brisbane.”

Mr Dametto also took aim at the Federal Coalition government over their recent announcement of a Senate enquiry into whether farming and poor water quality harm the Great Barrier Reef.

“The Federal Coalition have had months to establish a proper audit into Reef science but instead we get something which is a token gesture,” he said.

“Rather than checking and replicating the Reef science to ensure its accuracy, we will now have farmers and farming practices once again put under the microscope by a government, this time the Federal Coalition.”

Mr Knuth said the new legislation would “impact severely on all agricultural and grazing industries in North Queensland”.

“The laws are nothing but an assault on our farmers. The government should be working collaboratively with the farmers instead of using legislation as a sledge hammer,” he said.

“Sadly these laws hit farmers with mass fines and burdensome regulations.”