WAFarmers
THE State Opposition parties should be congratulated for their proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act.
In the initial stages the act was designed to clarify the issues in relation to land clearing but the broad categorisation of environmental harm is unwieldy.
It is not only our members that have had difficulty in comprehending the proposed amendments to the legislation since its introduction in June 2002.
When the Public Sector employees can’t understand the legislation they have to administer it is difficult for farmers to come to grips with it.
WAFarmers challenged the Government soon after its election to office to clarify the extremely grey areas of regulation surrounding land clearing and simultaneously address the issue of property rights and compensation in cases where a farmer’s productivity was restricted in the name of public good.
We have been trying for two years to negotiate a position on property rights but have been led up a blind alley.
It seems the Government is just not committed to the recognition of property rights and water resource security.
Farmers are not environmental vandals and it’s about time the Government acknowledged this fact.
Opposition members are to be commended for their actions in endeavouring to make the Government accountable to the public and the EPA more workable.
– Colin Nicholl
