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The Bill

On 26 October 2017, the Member for Darlymple, Mr Shane Knuth MP, introduced the Vegetation Management (Clearing for Relevant Purposes) Amendment Bill 2017 (the bill).

In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the bill was referred to the Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee (the committee) for detailed consideration.

The policy objectives of the bill are to amend the Vegetation Management Act 1999 to:

• Create an obligation on the chief executive to issues an information notice where an application for clearing, as assessed under section 22A of the Act, has been rejected; and
• Remove “grazing activities” from the definition of high value agriculture clearing to ensure that it is considered a relevant purpose in the chief executive’s consideration of an application to clear under the Act.

According to the explanatory notes this bill has been developed to address gaps within the existing legislative framework that constrain the ability of primary producers to clear land for legitimate purposes and enable access to a reasonable appeals process.