THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP
Leader of The Nationals
Shadow Agriculture Minister
29 November 2025
Murray Watt has land clearing laws all wrong, but it’s farmers who will suffer
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Environment Minister Murray Watt is demonising farmers for cheap political points and shows he doesn’t understand his new laws or existing laws.
Mr Littleproud said Minister Watt’s claims that the new rules must be enforced immediately to stop farmers clearing their land before it becomes law is scaremongering and demonises farmers.
“Minister Watt should know that there are already stringent state laws which prohibit illegal land clearing when it comes to our farms,” Mr Littleproud 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 grazing land, so Labor can gain some inner-city votes.
“Farmers are deeply concerned about the removal of the ‘lawful continuation of land use’ in relation to clearing vegetation, which will mean any clearing of native vegetation regrowth more than 15 years old will no longer be exempt from scrutiny under law.
“Minister Watt also doesn’t understand that farmers are tremendous stewards of their land.
“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 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.
“On top of that, Scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting do not have guardrails and open up to legal risk and another back door to a climate trigger.
“Labor’s new land clearing laws will also reduce productivity, pushing prices up, which families will feel at the supermarket checkout.”
