NSW Farmers: OEH veg report tells incomplete story

Unfortunately some journalists, politicians and greens groups seized on the report and conveniently concluded ‘unexplained clearing’ equated to illegal land clearing.

The reality is OEH does not have the capability to say what the unexplained clearing is. That’s why the department calls it ‘unexplained’ - it could be clearing trees because they pose a safety risk, routine agricultural management activities like fence lines, stock yards or fire hazard reduction control, or management of non-protected vegetation.

Furthermore, the report fails to recognise vegetation gain, so when for example, one tree is lost, and 50 are re-planted in its place, only the loss is reported.

OEH’s report shows one small part of the picture but it’s been enough to see other groups in the land reform debate claim land clearing is increasing and therefore farmers shouldn’t be trusted.

We need more progressive, scientifically-based land management laws. That’s why we’ve been lobbying the government for years for reform that will improve environmental outcomes and farm production.

Government’s proposed biodiversity reforms go some of the way, but we’re seeking amendments so that the new laws will be practical and workable. 

The key amendments that we seek include the correction of serious errors with the mapping, removing the caps on self-assessable-codes, and more accessible assessment schemes.

We also have concerns with the proposed powers of entry and investigation, which would allow an officer to enter land without a reason, without seeking permission, and without giving notice to the landholder.

This area of policy is complex but it’s critically important. Current laws are failing the environment and farmers.