Labor to reintroduce tree clearing laws

A re-elected Queensland Labor government would reintroduce tree clearing laws and offer "green bonds" to farmers.

A re-elected Palaszczuk Labor government would reintroduce its tree-clearing legislation as well as offer "green bonds" to farmers.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk went to Daisy Hill Koala Sanctuary south of Brisbane on Saturday to make the announcement on Day 7 of the election campaign.

The government had previously introduced laws to limit tree clearing legislation, however they were still going through parliament when the November 25 poll was called and will now need to be reintroduced.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was one of the many reasons she needed a majority in the next term, compared to her minority government's of the last three years.

"I need a majority at this election to see these laws reintroduced and our commitment to safeguarding the environment and stopping broad-scale land-clearing in the state," the premier told reporters.

The latest poll figures have Labor's support flat on 35 per cent, while One Nation's vote has risen from 15 per cent to 18 per cent and the Liberal National Party has slumped to 32 per cent

Ms Palaszczuk has previously stated she would not enter into a deal with One Nation, even if it meant losing government.

The premier also announced a $500 million dollar Land Restoration Fund which would be used to fund so-called "green bonds."

The bonds can be bought by businesses looking to offset their land-clearing, while landowners such as farmers would be offered incentives to plant more trees.

This week the premier flagged that she would reintroduce the land-clearing legislation but without the controversial reverse onus-of-proof for farmers to prove they hadn't been illegally clearing, which had angered farmers groups like AgForce.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the equivalent of a thousand football fields a day was being cleared in Queensland, and that had to be curbed.

"That level of tree clearing is absolutely unsustainable," Ms Trad said.

"(These laws) will see us working with farmers to deliver funds for land restoration projects, and also to make sure we protect our remnant forests and our high value regrowth."

The move has already been welcomed by environmental groups on Saturday, with Gemma Plesman from the Wilderness Society saying the laws would "save wildlife, reduce muddy water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help kickstart a carbon economy."


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Source: AAP



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