WITH just one week to go until the Nationals self-imposed native vegetation reform deadline, progress has been delayed and it’s become clear farmers won’t see draft legislation until 2016.
This election commitment came on the back of the government accepting all 43 recommendations of the Biodiversity Legislation review, which included replacing the unworkable and costly Native Vegetation, Threatened Species Conservation and parts of the National Parks and Wildlife acts.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair, who has responsibility for native vegetation reform along with Environment Minister Rob Stokes and Planning Minister Mark Speakman, said the draft legislation would be ready in November for targeted consultation.
Mr Blair said this meant close consultation with NSW Farmers, and some conservation groups, who would be co-ordinated through the Environment Liaison Office.
“(We’re aiming to have) it drafted in November, in the hands of NSW Farmers to have a targeted consultation so we get it right, so when we get back in the new year we then get it through the parliament and away we go,” he said.
Mr Grant acknowledged the reform’s delay, but pointed the blame at NSW Farmers.
“NSW Farmers has written to me asking for a little more time to read through and consult on the mechanics of the legislation,” Mr Grant said.
“I’m happy to do that if that’s what they’re asking.
“I wanted this done by November, but if we do move off that date, I want it straight back in (parliament) after Christmas.”
NSW Farmers conservation resource management committee chairman Mitchell Clapham denied Mr Grant’s claim the association was the sole cause of the delay.
“We were not satisfied with the level of consultation or information received to date, and had agreed to a small extension,” Mr Clapham said.
“We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to get native vegetation law in NSW right for farmers and it’s more important to get it right than meet an artificial deadline.”
A spokesman from Mr Blair’s office said it was critical throughout this process the package of reforms remained true to the intent of the independent review panel’s recommendations to the NSW government.
In March, the review’s 43 recommendations attracted support across the Coalition, including Mr Stokes, who said “the proposals in this report offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement transformational reforms”.
Meanwhile, those landholders who thought they might get a peek at the new-look legislation next month will now have to wait until 2016.
Mr Blair said that was the earliest the draft legislation would be available for public consultation.
The Native Vegetation Act would not be repealed until the new Bill was passed through parliament and no date was set for when this would happen.
