The Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill was introduced by the Government on March 8, 2018. A detailed report on this bill was made public on April 23, 2018 and is available here.
The purpose of this bill is to extend the protection of high value regrowth vegetation (vegetation which has not been cleared for more than 15 years) to freehold land, native title land and leasehold land. Currently, these restrictions don’t apply to freehold land and high value regrowth is only categorised as land that hasn’t been cleared since 31 December 1989 (28 years).
It will also restrict clearing of native vegetation that is essential habitat to “near threatened” species rather than only endangered and vulnerable species. The Bill also removes the ability to clear land for high value and irrigated high value agriculture, and bolsters protections against clearing in riparian zones in Great Barrier Reef catchment arenas.
This Bill if passed will restrict the amount of total arable land available for farming in Queensland, however it will assist in reducing land clearing and help lower Queensland’s carbon dioxide emissions. Below is a list of documents should you wish further information on what is being proposed.
Explanatory Statement: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2018/5618T300.pdf
Department of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines Briefing: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/committees/SDNRAIDC/2018/5VegManagOLAB2018/bp-14Mar2018.pdf
Submissions on Bill: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/SDNRAIDC/inquiries/current-inquiries/5VegManagOLAB2018