Farmers rally outside Parliament

2 Feb 2010, 6:00 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A demonstration organised by the NSW Farmers Association follows NSW grazier Peter Spencer's 52-day hunger strike over state government laws preventing him from clearing native vegetation on his property. (AAP)

A demonstration organised by the NSW Farmers Association follows NSW grazier Peter Spencer's 52-day hunger strike over state government laws preventing him from clearing native vegetation on his property. (AAP)

About 2000 farmers have rallied outside Parliament House in Canberra demanding compensation for property rights taken away by the states.

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About 2,000 farmers have rallied outside Parliament House in Canberra demanding compensation for property rights taken away by the states.

The demonstration, organised by the NSW Farmers Association, follows NSW grazier Peter Spencer's 52-day hunger strike over state government laws preventing him from clearing native vegetation on his property.

Chanting "Justice for all, that's our call" and carrying placards saying "Our farm, our rights", the farmers' show of support reduced Mr Spencer to tears on Tuesday.

He addressed the rally, alongside Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, radio personality Alan Jones and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce.

"A few months ago I was a man on a plank, just a few metres above the ground. Now, look at this, just look at this," Mr Spencer told the crowd in disbelief.

The grazier said farmers should nominate 2010 as the year of the tower of hope for change and called on them to back potential politicians who are going to stand up for their rights.

2009 NSW Farmer of the Year Michael O'Brien told AAP that governments had brought in vegetation laws to appease those living along the coastline.

"There are many parts of Australia, of which I come from one, where we have to change the land use and should be allowed to change the land use, but under these native vegetation act laws, we're not allowed to do it," Mr O'Brien, from Walgett, said.

Compensation was only part of the solution, he said.

"It's more to do with what they can do with the land for the good of the country that's been thwarted by state governments and federal governments hiding behind it," Mr O'Brien said.

It was disappointing that the Nationals had not lobbied more strongly under the previous coalition government, he said.

Mr Abbott accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his ministers of ignoring farmers and criticised them for not addressing the protest.

"It is a sad day in this country when a couple of thousand farmers and country people make the effort to come to Canberra and not get a hearing from a single government minister. And I say, shame on the Rudd government for ignoring country people."

Mr Abbott said he couldn't always agree with the farmers, but he would do his damnedest to ensure that no political party he was associated with would take away people's rights without compensation.

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