Amy Remeikis reports in the Brisbane Times (3.6.16) on the Law Society’s criticisms of the state government’s recently reinstated native vegetation management laws, surprisingly likened to the previous Newman Government’s anti-bikie VLAD laws.
‘The Palaszczuk government is being forced to defend its vegetation management legislation not just to farmers, but also the state’s legal fraternity.
‘Legal experts have raised concerns the laws would be an “unjustified and a step backwards for justice” comparable to the worst of the LNP anti-bikie laws.
‘In a statement released on its website on Friday, Queensland Law Society President Bill Potts said the planned changes to vegetation management laws, already shaping up as one of the most controversial bills in front of the 55th Parliament, damaged one of the most fundamental principles of the justice system.
‘The legislation aims to once again tighten Queensland’s land clearing laws, after clearing jumped from 100,000 hectares to almost 300,000 hectares in three years between 2010 and 2013.’