Farmers could face fines and increased costs because the Albanese Government has moved to introduce changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act without understanding the impact on day-to-day operations.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Darren Chester says the government should delay the implementation of its new EPBC rules for at least 12 months, to allow time for practical input and common sense solutions to the issues being raised by farmers.
“The National Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a guide on how to deal with the changes to the Act and it has only added to the confusion,” Mr Chester said.
“Even the Canberra bureaucrats don’t understand how their new rules will be applied.
“In Senate Estimates, when The Nationals leader Matt Canavan asked whether a cow grazing a pasture is a ‘clearing event’ under the new EPBC Act, the Government’s Agriculture Department couldn’t give a definitive answer.
“Instead, department officials said another agency was responsible and took the question on notice. Responses from the hearing aren’t due until December 17.”
Mr Chester said the entire process was adding to stress and uncertainty for farming families who were already under pressure from increased input costs.
“It’s hard enough to make money on a farm today without the Albanese Government working against our farming families,” Mr Chester said.
“The National Farmers Federation and a long list of peak bodies has opposed these EPBC Act changes from the outset because they add to the regulatory burden and cost of farming.
“The NFF said the guide doesn’t resolve the concerns held by farmers and the broader agricultural sector and doesn’t give farmers confidence to carry out routine agricultural practices, such as constructing fences or repairing essential earthworks.
“The real impact is that many potentially affected farmers will read the guide and be more confused than ever about what they can and cannot do. The whole process should be put on hold for at least 12 months.”
Mr Chester said the confusion in Senate Estimates mattered to every farming family.
“Only paddocks cleared within the past 15 years qualify for the continuing use exemption and the National EPA guide treats grass as something which can be cleared.
“This isn’t a trick question. It’s the first thing any farmer would ask, and the department meant to back farmers can’t answer it.
“Farmers need answers before they move stock tomorrow, not when an inspector knocks on the door. If our own agriculture officials are stumped, what hope does a family running cattle in regional Australia have?”
The Department also confirmed in Senate Estimates it hasn’t seen a draft of the updated guide due in December, wasn’t consulted on the National EPA’s statement of expectations, and wasn’t aware of reports National EPA staff are telling farmers something different to the guide.
“Agriculture should have a seat at the table, but the department hasn’t even seen the next draft of the guide. Its Secretary hasn’t met with AgForce, one of the peak bodies ringing the alarm bell. That’s not good enough,” Mr Chester said.
“A 12 month pause is a sensible step. Sit down and consult with farmers, rewrite the guide, and give people some clear answers.”
Mr Chester said a future Coalition Government would fix the EPBC Act and make clear to regulators their job is to help Australians get ahead, not hold them back.
“The rules are a mess and the way they’re being enforced is making it worse. Industry groups have been warning for months the cost of federal red tape is out of control,” Mr Chester said.
“The Coalition will cut red tape across government, with agriculture high on the list. Our goal is to cut the federal regulatory burden by 25 per cent in our first term, saving businesses $40 billion a year.”
