22 November 2016

NSW has one of the worst extinction rates in the world; much of our landscape is cleared and remnant native vegetation fragmented. Land clearing has global impacts through biodiversity loss and carbon emissions and it is now more important than ever that we protect the remaining native fauna, flora and ecosystems.

Yet the government pushed through legislation to repeal land clearing laws so that landowners can clear native vegetation without oversight. The laws mimic those in Queensland which tripled clearing rates to 300,000 hectares a year; under the current system in NSW it is 10,000 hectares a year. Most farmers are good stewards of the land and many don’t support the legislation because it will reduce soil and water quality, and increase salinity. My speech is HERE.

NSW has one of the worst extinction rates in the world; much of our landscape is cleared and remnant native vegetation fragmented. Land clearing has global impacts through biodiversity loss and carbon emissions and it is now more important than ever that we protect the remaining native fauna, flora and ecosystems.

Yet the government pushed through legislation to repeal land clearing laws so that landowners can clear native vegetation without oversight. The laws mimic those in Queensland which tripled clearing rates to 300,000 hectares a year; under the current system in NSW it is 10,000 hectares a year. Most farmers are good stewards of the land and many don’t support the legislation because it will reduce soil and water quality, and increase salinity. My speech is HERE.