Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt is demonising farmers for cheap political points and shows he doesn’t understand his new laws or existing laws, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has said.
Dr Webster said Minister Watt is scaremongering and demonising farmers, as the Minister indicates he wants new rules against land-clearing to be enforced immediately, stopping farmers clearing land as Friday’s Labor-Greens EPBC deal becomes law.
“Minister Watt should know that there are already stringent state laws which prohibit illegal land clearing when it comes to our farms,” Dr Webster said.
“Minister Watt is unnecessarily fearmongering due to his deal with the Greens, which was rushed through on the last sitting day of Parliament.
“These laws are nothing more than extra green tape to stop farmers managing their land, so Labor can gain some inner-city votes.”
