Freedoms Inquiry: Submission

The NFF’s 3 March 2015 Freedoms Inquiry Submission outlines certain areas in Commonwealth legislation that, in the NFF’s view, encroach upon the traditional freedoms of Australian farmers. NFF notes key areas of concern, including Commonwealth laws that deal with land use, as well as workplace relations laws that involve general protections and the enterprise bargaining framework. NFF acknowledges the significance of legislation such as native vegetation laws, but also notes that results have been achieved to the detriment of farmers’ property rights, and without compensation this results in Australian farmers disproportionately carrying the burden of these regulations. NFF argues that farmers should be entitled to just compensation, which should be determined in a nationally consistent manner, without State-based discrimination.