‍Tuesday 2 December 2025

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt is demonising farmers for cheap political points and shows he doesn’t understand his new laws or existing laws, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said today.

Dr Webster said Minister Watt is scaremongering and demonising farmers, as the Minister indicates he wants new rules against land-clearing to be enforced immediately, stopping farmers clearing land as Friday’s Labor-Greens EPBC deal becomes law.

“Minister Watt should know that there are already stringent state laws which prohibit illegal land clearing when it comes to our farms,” Dr Webster said.

“Minister Watt is unnecessarily fearmongering due to his deal with the Greens, which was rushed through on the last sitting day of Parliament.

“These laws are nothing more than extra green tape to stop farmers managing their land, so Labor can gain some inner-city votes.

“Farmers are deeply concerned about the removal of the ‘lawful continuation of land use’ provisions in relation to clearing vegetation, which will now mean any clearing of native vegetation regrowth more than 15 years old will no longer be exempt from scrutiny under federal law.

The ‘continuing use’ provision allows farmers to keep clearing land that was farming land before July 2000 if it relates to the continuation of the same land use.

“Minister Watt also doesn’t understand that farmers are tremendous stewards of their land," Dr Webster said.

“Labor’s changes will only make it harder for farmers to actively manage their land and will promote poor environmental outcomes and increase bushfire risk.

“The Albanese Government’s misunderstanding of agricultural practices is bitterly disappointing and it’s our farmers who are once again bearing the brunt of Labor’s complex federal environmental laws.

“Labor’s new land clearing laws will also reduce productivity, pushing prices up, which families will feel at the supermarket checkout.”

‍

‍