In the Senate yesterday, Queensland Senator and New Nationals Leader Matt Canavan introduced The Nationals’ Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026, following the tabling of an identical Bill in the House of Representatives last week by the NSW Nationals’ Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold MP.
The Bill was authored by Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications Dr Anne Webster MP following outcry about the rapid rollout of mining and energy projects on prime agricultural land here in the Mallee.
Dr Webster said terrible experiences of poor rehabilitation and state government powers to compel projects to proceed threatened to kick Mallee farmers out of their homes.
“The Prime Agricultural Land Bill 2026 will ensure no Commonwealth Government leaves farmers worse off – for example, if a government-backed project cannot proceed without making a family home uninhabitable, farmers will be offered an acceptable, substitute home,” Dr Webster said.
