Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When Mr Ian Armstrong was the Leader of the National Party at a state level, he said, with regard to SEPP 46 under the Native Vegetation Act 1991, that he would 'tear it up' the moment he got back into government. Why? Because it is merely socialism by another name. It is merely the divestment of a private asset from an individual to be vested in the state without payment. It's Gucci socialism. And what it is doing is absolutely smashing the capacity of people in regional areas to act in a way that allows them to take full advantage of the private ownership of their asset, paid for with their money—with money owed to a bank. Now we have the next step in this legislation, the so-called koala protections, taking the number of trees from 10 to 123—yet another imposition, which the conservative side of government should never be supporting. I condemn Minister Kean, at a state level, for dragging us to the left. I congratulate Chris Gulaptis, the member for Clarence, for standing up and being heard.

I've also heard from the minister for ag, Adam Marshall, in the paper, and also John Barilaro; they say that they will move a bill to counteract this regulation. I say to them: good on you, but you've got to do it. Don't bluff—do it!