National Party flip-flops on the Native Vegetation Act
In 2014 the NSW Nationals opposed a bill written by NSW Farmers that restored farmers' rights to clear their own land.
Now as the Orange by-election looms they're petitioning their own Government on the issue because the Liberal Party won't let them change the law.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak called-out the NSW Nationals for flip-flopping on the Native Vegetation Act.
This follows a petition posted on the NSW Nationals website and Facebook page on Sunday saying that the laws are "crippling our farmers" and treating farmers "like second-class citizens on their own land."
"If the NSW Nationals were so concerned about Native Vegetation laws they would have supported my colleague Robert Brown's 2014 bill to change those laws and reinstate a farmer's right to clear their own land," Mr Borsak said.
"My bill to amend the Native Vegetation Act was written directly by NSW Farmers - the peak farming body in this state.
"Every single National Party MP stood side-by-side with Labor, The Greens to oppose my bill written by NSW Farmers. The Nationals wanted to support it but they were just doing what the Liberal Party told them to do, so they opposed it.
"The only reason we're seeing this back on the agenda is because of the Orange by-election and our strong local candidate Philip Donato, but local people will easily see through such a cynical exercise," said Mr Borsak.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party candidate for Orange Philip Donato said that this was another example of The Nationals flip-flopping depending on what the Liberal Party said.
"So many people have been coming up to me and saying that they're tired of The Nationals saying one thing and doing another," he said.
"The Native Vegetation Act is a prime example - it was a complete betrayal when they sided with the Greens to oppose a bill written by NSW Farmers.
"Whenever National Party MPs ignore their local areas to do what the Liberal Party wants, it's just another example of city decisions with country consequences. I won't stand for it. Orange deserves better."
