Queensland agricultural producers are urgently calling for more input into the overhaul of Australia's federal environmental laws to ensure they protect the environment without sacrificing the output of the agricultural industry.
In response to the Environment Minister Murray Watt's National Press Club address, AgForce General President Shane McCarthy said farmers are ready to come to the negotiation table immediately as part of the process of reforming the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation (EPBC) Act.
The Coalition and Greens have pushed the EPBC reform bills into a five-month Senate inquiry.
Mr McCarthy said that has provided a window of opportunity to engage more constructively with Queensland farmers - who manage the largest share of the nation's agricultural land.
There's some concern that there's been limited engagement with Queensland agricultural stakeholders so far on these long overdue reforms.
Mr McCarthy said with agriculture contributing more than 5.7 per cent of Australia's GDP, it's crucial that farmers' voices are heard in this review process to clear up the many areas of confusion in the current EPBC Act.
These include the duplication of consent provisions in state laws, which mean that farmers who meet state regulatory requirements can sometimes still find themselves in breach of federal law.
"AgForce seeks clarity and certainty for Queensland producers in navigating increasingly complex and sometimes contradictory regulations across different government departments and levels," he said.
"We are the stewards of much of Queensland's vast landscapes and feel a deep sense of personal responsibility for protecting the environment for future generations and ensuring the food security and prosperity of this nation. We deserve to have a say in how Australia's land and water is managed.
"The agricultural opportunity in Queensland is immense, and it is producers who hold the practical knowledge and capacity to deliver the balance between production, sustainability, and food security that the federal government is seeking.
"Farmers and regional communities must be genuinely included and consulted on matters that impact agricultural stability and innovation."
He calls for more certainty and clarity around consultation mechanisms to ensure the agriculture industry's concerns are heard and understood.
AgForce is Queensland's peak representative body for rural producers.
