NATIVE VEGETATION DEAL FRACTURE

Friday, 21 November 2003 10:00

"Recent statements by the Senior Vice President of the NSW Farmers Association and Sinclair Group negotiator, Rob Anderson make it clear their claims for rotational agricultural were a con and in fact were intended to allow broadscale clearing to continue on a massive scale.* This is totally contrary to the policy to end broadscale land clearing. That part of the deal is now off," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

"The government has one chance to get this right. If they allow this loophole, then their environmental reputation will be torn to shreds in coming years. We urge them to amend the Native Vegetation Bill to eliminate any reference to rotational farming."

Brooke Flanagan, Executive Officer of the Nature Conservation Council said: "There has already been over a million hectares cleared, illegally or through loopholes, in NSW. There is no way this giant new loophole can be allowed to become law. NSW should get on with the job of saving the bush and planting more - not letting the bulldozers run amok."

* Mr Anderson recently told a farmer's meeting that they got agreement for remnant vegetation to be reclassified as regrowth for clearing - "Greens thought they could smell a rat but couldn't work out why - anyone with some imagination can work out rotational farming is a pretty generic term," he said (NSW Country Hour 13/11/03).