March protests land clearing

Issue 

BY JIM MCILROY

BRISBANE — On November 27, 200 people marched through city streets demanding an end to uncontrolled land clearing in Queensland. The marchers rallied outside the state parliament on the last day of sitting for the year.

At the rally, the protesters heard Dr Jim Traill, from the Wilderness Society, and Felicity Wishart, from the Queensland Conservation Council, outline the case to end the broad-scale land clearing which is threatening native wildlife, causing salinity on farmland and in rivers, and increasing greenhouse gases.

During the rally, Labor Premier Peter Beattie appeared to announce to the crowd that his government would "go it alone, if necessary", on funding compensation for farmers under the proposed joint federal-state land-clearing reform package announced in May.

An indefinite moratorium on new land-clearing applications was introduced by the Queensland government in May, to prevent a repeat of 1999 when farmers began panic clearing. However, the Wilderness Society points out that it has not been effective in preventing continued mass clearing of land in Queensland over the past six months.

The federal government has been stalling on implementation of the package, under pressure from farm lobby groups and the Queensland National Party. Beattie said the state Labor government was "fast running out of patience" with the federal Coalition government's stalling tactics.

To applause from the protesters, Beattie said that if the federal government fails to respond within three months, the Queensland government would push ahead with its $75 million package to compensate farmers for the proposed ban on all broad-scale clearing of remnant vegetation by 2006.

"Whether landholders receive the remaining $75 million is up to the federal government", Beattie said.

Protest organisers welcomed Beattie's stand, but pointed out that remaining weaknesses in the package include the lack of controls on urban landclearing.

From Green Left Weekly, December 3, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.