The Nationals Member for Riverina, Kay Hull, has said she has enormous sympathy for the farmers  affected by the NSW Government’s native vegetation laws, and supports the NSW Farmers’ in their fight for compensation.                

Mrs Hull said insensitive and indiscriminate land clearing and vegetation management laws such as those introduced by the New South Wales Government have significantly affected land values.

 “While the Federal Constitution obligates the Commonwealth to pay compensation when property rights are devalued, I am informed that the States are under no similar obligation,” Mrs. Hull said.

“It is unconscionable for the States to devalue property or to remove rights without paying appropriate compensation.

“If a State considers that it is in the community’s interest to use land for a public purpose, or to make it unusable to a landholder who purchased the property in good faith, then the Government on behalf of the community should pay compensation.

 “In Government, the Liberal and National Parties agreed to work through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to secure investment certainty for landholders through property rights in land and vegetation. It is time that Mr Rudd made the same commitment to help reassure property owners that the value of their land is secure and will be protected. 

“The New South Wales and other State Labor Governments must commit to respecting property rights and to compensating those whose rights are compromised or restricted by government actions.

“Land holders must be compensated where the use of that land is regulated retrospectively by Government.

“The protest rally involving 3000 farmers from right across eastern Australia on Tuesday was a stark representation of the desperation of our farmers.

“In a world where food security issues are becoming paramount, it is high Labor State and Federal Governments recognised the value and importance of Australian agriculture. Our farmers are amongst the cleanest and greenest food producers in the world, and are exceptional managers of their land.

“The Nationals will continue to take every available opportunity to pursue these matters, regarded as fundamental to the Australian way of life,” Mrs. Hull said.