ALL PARTIES SUPPORT LANDHOLDERS GETTING LONGER LEASES FOR LOOKING AFTER THEIR LAND

Farmers and graziers who lease state government land will be able to get longer leases if they improve the condition of their land, under innovative land reforms passed unanimously in the Queensland Parliament today.

Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said the unanimous support for new leasehold land provisions in the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 was a great example of people working together for the benefit of rural Queenslanders.

“Country people are sick of politicians fighting – this shows what can be done when all political parties combine to support good legislation,” he said.

Mr Wallace said the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 would facilitate the introduction of the Blueprint for the Bush’s State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy.

The Strategy allows leases of 50, 40 and 30 years compared with the current maximum of 30 years.

Lease extensions may be granted if landholders keep their land in good condition and, where appropriate, conserve high-value areas of their land or allow access by local indigenous people.

“The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy acknowledges that security of tenure is needed for successful agriculture and grazing,” Mr Wallace said.

“It rewards leaseholders who protect the natural resources and environmental values critical to the land’s long-term viability,” he said.

“This is an innovative incentive and a win-win for the landholder, the environment and the community at large.”

Mr Wallace said the State Government currently was finalising the State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy with AgForce and environmentalists.

The Bill introduced today provides the legislative basis for the strategy which will commence in early 2008.

Almost 65% of Queensland is state-owned land that is leased to landholders.

Details of possible extensions to leases are:

·Currently rural lessees can have a lease for a maximum of 30 years.

·Leaseholders who improve the condition of their land will be able to receive an additional 10 years to their term.

·A 50 year term is possible for land where further conservation and indigenous access requirements are fulfilled.

The Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 also amends the Vegetation Management Act to allow a landholder to voluntarily declare their land protected under that Act.

“In the future, landholders may be able to use the trees on their land that are not currently protected by the vegetation laws as a source of income through carbon credits,” Mr Wallace said.

These changes will allow a landholder to easily protect trees when that is required as part of securing carbon or other offsets,” he said.

Finally the Bill facilitates state leasehold rental reforms which gives the Government the tools to address huge jumps in rent otherwise due this year,” the Minister said.

These tools include:

§The ability to introduce averaging of valuations to smooth rental increases;

§The ability to put in place a cap to enable excessive increases to be addressed.

“The Government will now consider how to apply these tools to deliver a fairer rental system,” Mr Wallace said.

“Our priority is to resolve the situation regarding rural rents and during this year we will address the remainder of the leasehold estate,” he said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.