Fed: Farmers urged to contact Costello over inquiry

00-00-0000
Fed: Farmers urged to contact Costello over inquiry

CANBERRA, April 10 AAP - Farmers are being urged to inundate the office of TreasurerPeter Costello with messages to start an inquiry into the nation's vegetation and biodiversitylaws.

National Farmers' Federation president Peter Corish said farmers should ring or emailMr Costello's office to force action on the proposed Productivity Commission inquiry.

The federation has been waiting since August last year for the inquiry which will lookat the financial costs imposed by federal and state laws governing vegetation and biodiversity.

Farmers believe the laws have dramatically increased their costs while, in some cases,reducing the value of their properties.

Mr Corish said Mr Costello had to be told by farmers the problems they were facingby his inaction.

"The terms of reference are sitting in the treasurer's office, where they have beenfor some time, and still we do not see any action," he said in a statement.

"Doesn't the treasurer understand the uncertainty and anger his lack of action is causing?

"We need farmers to contact the treasurer directly to impress upon him the importanceof this legislation and to urge him to sign off on the terms of reference so this inquirycan begin."

Mr Corish said not only should the inquiry start immediately, it needed the head ofthe Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Brian Fisher, to be oneof its associate commissioners.

Federal and state vegetation laws were a major concern to farmers because of the uncertaintythey had caused, Mr Corish said.

"Although there has been a state consultation process, the delays in establishing theinquiry are chronic," he said.

"It is time for the treasurer to send the terms of reference to the Productivity Commissionas a matter of urgency."

AAP sw/sb/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: LAND