Queensland’s Labor government this month tabled a bill to tighten the regulation of land clearing. Queensland is by far the worst offender in this area, following a litany of reversals of vegetation protection.
After a period of tightened laws between 2004 and 2013, the Newman government set about unwinding key reforms during its 2012-15 term.
Following these changes, land-clearing rates quadrupled to almost 400,000 hectares per year, to the dismay of conservationists, with rising concern about the impacts on wild animal welfare and wider ecological impacts.
This article by UQ researchers Anita Cosgrove, April Reside, James Watson and Martine Maron appeared on The Conversation on 16 March 2018.
