Statement on EPBC 

Comments attributable to NFF President Hamish McIntyre

Farmers have been left bitterly disappointed by the deal between the Government and the Greens on environmental reform.

The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government has made a deal with the Greens on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, through the environment protection reform bill process.

As stewards of more than half of Australia’s environment, farmers understand the importance of doing the right thing by the land.

They’ve also historically borne the brunt of complex federal environmental laws, often at odds with state obligations.

That’s why the NFF has supported genuine reform, but not this deal.

Our key concern is the announcement of ‘closer controls’ of ‘high risk land clearing’. The specifics of this remain unclear, and we are urgently calling for clarity.

The introduction of reduced regrowth thresholds to the long-established ‘continuing use’ provision will promote poor environmental outcomes and increase bushfire risk.

It will interfere with routine vegetation management of regrowth to prevent bushfires, keep land productive, and manage weeds.

The misunderstanding of agricultural practices is bitterly disappointing.

The NFF will continue to try to make these reforms as workable for the farm sector as possible.