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 Farmers demand a fair go for property rights in Sydney 

Farmers demand a fair go for property rights in Sydney

24 Feb, 2010 02:09 PM
FARMERS brought Sydney traffic to a standstill this morning as they continued their campaign for property rights.

About 1000 farmers from across the State converged on the city in an effort to draw attention to farmers reduced property rights as a result of State and Federal legislation.

A rally was held at Hyde Park before farmers marched to State Parliament House, shouting their message that "enough is enough".

Bus loads of protesters travelled from Tenterfield, Nyngan, Mathoura and the Central West, while others made their own way to the rally.

Speakers included parliamentarians, farmers and city-supporters of the campaign.

While the focus of the rally was property rights, other issues and campaigns were also present raising awareness about the impact of changes to beef import laws, the impact of mining exploration on farming land and the affect closure of the sawmilling industry would have on the State's south-west.

Hunger-striking farmer, Peter Spencer, who helped raise prominence of the issue through a 50-plus day hunger strike, was guest speaker at the event and was welcomed with cheers of "One man can make a difference".

Mr Spencer said farmers were still seeking a Royal Commision into their rights.

He said while taking land for native vegetation may be necessary, it affected productivity and the governments should have paid for it first.

NSW Farmers Association senior vice-president, John Ridley, said there had been tens of thousands of dollars in lost production and uncertainty.

"We want a fair go," he said.

"It's a poor indictment on the lawmakers that we have to lobby to make a fair living."

Chris Crump, Mathoura, is a sawmiller at Mathoura in the State's south west and said the industry would be destoryed by national park legislation.

He said the town - which had been founded by farming and milling - would be undone by the legislation.

As suburbia spreads in the Sydney Basin, land is in increasing demand and Katrina Thirupt, Leppington, spoke of compulsory acquisitions being made in her area.

"The fair go has gone with the size of the block," she said.

"This legislation needs to be repealed."

The rally put pressure on politicians in the lead-up to the election with a number of speakers, including Mr Spencer, calling on farmers to find out where candidates stand and only elect those willing to take up the fight.

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comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
A fair go for Aussies - not under Refugee Rudd's tinpot dictatorship!
Posted by tigerdicky, 24/02/2010 3:18:26 PM, on The Land
Shame a lot of people will not know about this as there was no coverage on the (ABC) news or did I miss it Did anyone contact the media outlets? Better luck next time : (
Posted by Farmer Dave, 25/02/2010 7:37:25 AM, on The Land
It was all true but I still can't grasp that in this country the (State ) Govt can take property without paying any compensation let alone fair compensation but Lloyd Fleming from Inverell vows and declares that after first winning in the Court and then having it reversed on appeal FIVE years after his victory they took his place. The appeal was based on a case in England in 1825 which set a precedent. Can you believe it? More than ever am I convinced we have to fight this scourge.
Posted by daw, 25/02/2010 2:39:43 PM, on The Land
Get over it. No body has taken property. All governments have done is to pass laws that restrict how that property can be used. This happens all the time. Look at planning laws for example. Various statutory planning instruments place restrictions on the use of land, even if you do own it fee simple.
Posted by Joe, 25/02/2010 8:59:30 PM, on The Land
Wrong Joe Wrong! See my comment above yours. Ask Lloyd Fleming if you don't believe me. To legislate to stop a section ( not all farmers but a section) that they must leave their farms untouched if it has regrowth scrub on it is grossly and indecently wrong. Whilst Lloyds circumstance may be acceptable to Mugabe in Zimbabwe it sure aint here. Much of the World is aghast at Mugabe's actions and when the likes of lloyds story get's around the World they will be aghast that it is happening here too.
Posted by daw, 26/02/2010 2:06:41 PM, on The Land
Joe’s right on the money. And what’s more we haven’t had those rights for 70 years +. The Soil Conservation Act 1938 gave the commissioner of the Act the power to stop any works or activity that in his opinion ‘has caused or is likely to cause soil erosion or land degradation’ on any land. This rarely used legislation could be evoked to stop land clearing, over grazing, indeed any activity causing damage to the land. You’re crying over 70 year old spilt milk - the Veg Act took away no rights it merely put them into a formal assessment framework similar to other industries who submit DAs or EISs. It’s a pity the commissioner wasn’t on the ball to stop my neighbours illegally, but more importantly, inappropriately clearing timber country – the result, tens of thousands of cubic metres of soil washed from their newly cleared paddocks, down the local creek. It’s idiots like these who caused legislation like the Soil Con & Veg Acts to be drafted in the first place. Interestingly their paddocks haven’t grown anything but annual weeds in years - reap what you sow.
Posted by Andy, 3/03/2010 1:56:41 PM, on The Land

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Some of the crowd at today's rally in Sydney.
Some of the crowd at today's rally in Sydney.
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