AgForce has welcomed a commitment from Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, to work with landholders to address mounting concerns over the implementation of recent changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The commitment followed a farm visit at Clarke Creek, Central Queensland, hosted by producers David and Elizabeth Hill, where the Minister met with AgForce representatives including General President Shane McCarthy, to examine the practical impacts of current EPBC settings on grazing enterprises.
The visit included inspections of unmanaged brigalow regrowth, remnant vegetation, and actively managed regrowth systems, providing a firsthand view of how land management intersects with production and improved environmental and biodiversity outcomes.
AgForce General President Shane McCarthy said the EPBC Act is inadvertently capturing proactive land management that delivers environmental benefits, risking regulatory and administrative barriers to good stewardship.
"When routine management is treated like major redevelopment, it discourages proactive stewardship and creates real risks for bushfire load management, animal welfare and drought preparedness," Mr McCarthy said.
"Producers need a system that recognises the realities of cyclical agriculture and supports active land stewardship.
"We appreciate the Minister taking the time to make this visit and thank David and Elizabeth for giving us the opportunity to show how active land management is critical to both production and the environment.
"Minister Watt has seen firsthand the environmental, ecological and economic harm that occurs when invasive native trees, such as a Brigalow monoculture, is left unmanaged. He has seen the importance of practices that foster healthy ground cover to enhance soils and prevent erosion."
Commitments acknowledged but work remains
Mr McCarthy said Minister Watt advised the group that he would work with landholders through the current implementation issues and recognised the need for clarity.
"We welcome the pledge for greater consultation with industry during this implementation phase and ensuring there is consistent and workable clarity around 'continuing use' provisions for agriculture.
"AgForce recognises this is a process, not an end point and these reforms will be measured by how they work in practice."
Next steps: bilateral agreement pivotal
AgForce highlighted the coming bilateral arrangements between the Federal and Queensland governments as a further opportunity to ensure the Queensland context was recognised within the EPBC reforms and associated National Environmental Standards currently under development.
Mr McCarthy said sustainable intensification and improved land condition should not be misinterpreted as working against ecological improvement, with the current uncertainty already influencing land management decisions.
"Queensland producers are committed to managing their country responsibly," he said.
"What we need is a regulatory framework that supports that work, rather than one that is creating confusion and diverting resources away from on-ground outcomes."
