Fed: Veg laws failing to stop landcleraing: Report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
Fed: Veg laws failing to stop landcleraing: Report

A report says state and federal laws to stop the clearing of native vegetation are
failing and in some cases encouraging farmers to clear even more.

The Productivity Commission's draft report into the impact of native vegetation and
biodiversity laws says the regulations are hurting many rural communities.

It has found that, in some cases, the value of farm properties is being wiped out because
of regulations which have little community support.

The report says in the Moree Shire in New South Wales, and the Murweh Shire in Queensland,
bans on broadscale landclearing have cost farmers $80 million and $87 million.

When the potential cost of woodland thickening on currently grazed land across the
Murweh Shire is taken into account, the cost of vegetation laws is almost $180 million.

Commissioner NEIL BYRON says existing rules encourage farmers to over-use their land
to avoid the regrowth of native vegetation.

AAP RTV sw/sb/wz/lma

KEYWORD: NATIVE (CANBERRA)

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