A report into the increase of land clearing in the North West since native vegetation laws were changed in 2017 only tells half the story, according to Northern Tablelands Nationals Party candidate Adam Marshall.
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Earlier this month, wildlife conservation group WWF and the NSW Nature Conservation Council released a report which found that in the 12 months since the repeal of the state's Native Vegetation Act in 2017, more than 3,000 hectares of koala habitat was destroyed in the North West, Central West and Hunter regions - nearly double the 1,600 ha that was destroyed in 2016-17.
Mr Marshall said while this report is not surprising, the WWF is "hardly an objective source of information".
"They have a particular agenda, which is fine, but they've only told half the story," he said.
"They've seized on one set of data but hadn't looked at the flip side.
"They neglected to talk about revegetation rates we've seen increase as well since the new legislation has come in.
"For the first time, the legislation provides incentives and payment to farmers to not only revegetate but actively manage that."
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Mr Marshall said the problem with the previous legislation was that it "forcibly locked-up" productive land which farmers paid rates for but couldn't use for production.
"Farmers can now clear areas of their property for productive purposes and as a trade-off revegetate other areas of their property which aren't as good for productive purposes," he said.
Some of the best environmentalists we have are farmers. Farmers derive their income from the land. They have a vested interest in looking after our land. If they don't, properties become less productive.
- Adam Marshall, Nationals Party candidate
"That's getting better biodiversity outcomes for our region.
"Some of the best environmentalists we have are farmers. Farmers derive their income from the land. They have a vested interest in looking after our land. If they don't, properties become less productive. The better quality soils they have, the better quality yields and better productivity they'll be able to get."
Mr Marshall said while the new legislation is an improvement, it's still "far from perfect", and as a result, the state government are set to review it later this year.
"There may be tweaks that need to be made to make it more user-friendly for primary producers," he said.
Meanwhile, Greens Party candidate Dr Dorothy Robinson believes the new legislation is a step backwards.
"Both the satellite images from the Nature Conservation Council study and the NSW Government's own Statewide Land and Tree Survey show massive increases in land clearing since the Native Vegetation Act was repealed," she said.
"The replacement act allows farms and landholders to self-assess whether they need to make a formal application before clearing. Environmental groups and the government's own Office of Environment and Heritage warned that the new regime would lead to a major increase in loss of habitat. Sadly, that warning has now become a reality."
Dr Robinson said if we want to save the koala, these "counter-productive laws" need to be reversed to preserve our precious wildlife habitats.
"We also need effective policies to tackle global warming, including planting new trees as carbon stores as well as koala habitats," she said.
Environmental groups and the government's own Office of Environment and Heritage warned that the new regime would lead to a major increase in loss of habitat. Sadly, that warning has now become a reality.
- Dr Dorothy Robinson, Greens Party candidate
"We need a government that puts public interest before profit and listens to expert advice. The current government ignored warnings about the major increase in land clearing and consequent loss of habitat from the new laws, just like they ignored warnings about the fish kills and the Opal Tower fiasco.
"The experts managing the Energy Market (AEM) tell us that renewables are cheaper and more reliable than coal-fired power, but the government also appears to be ignoring this advice.
"That's why voters need to send a powerful message at the next election expressing support for Greens Policies to halt the land clearing and preserve our precious remaining habitat."
Country Labor candidate Debra O'Brien also weighed in on the issue and said farmers need access to more support services to guide them through the legislation and advise them on how make their land more productive.
"Ecologists are saying the current policy has removed protections, it is a backwards step in environmental law," she said.
"We do have to listen to the professionals, but we also have to listen to farmers. They're under stress, they want more productive land. There are farmers who are undermining the land clearance laws, they're taking desperate action. There's some pretty desperate people out there.
"They need advice and support about what makes their land more viable."
Land clearing hurts everyone.
- Debra O'Brien, Country Labor candidate
Ms O'Brien said Labor plans to invest a lot of money into organisations such as Local Land Services and Landcare - which she says have had funding cuts - to provide advice and support to farmers.
"Land clearing hurts everyone," she said.
"I'm talking to farmers who say 'I'm doing the right thing, but next door is totally clear'. That hurts everyone.
"But I understand, they're under pressure. So they need support around making their land more productive.
"We're looking at investing a lot of money in making sure LLS and Landcare can give greater support to farmers to increase productivity without having to destroy biodiversity."
The Moree Champion attempted to contact Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Rayne Single multiple times for his stance on land clearing, but are yet to receive a response.