Private property rights and Australian farms -- they got issues

Farm Weekly (Australia): Property rights, land tenure and climate change were just some of the big issues tackled at the Pastoralists and Graziers Association's (PGA) annual convention in Perth last week. It was the PGA's 104th annual conference and there was a strong turnout of more than 200 farmers, pastoralists and industry representatives, including a large political contingent.

…In his opening address, PGA president Rob Gillam spoke of the challenges faced by farmers and pastoralists, particularly by external groups questioning their businesses. "Never before in the history of agriculture have we seen so many additional stakeholders trying to impinge on our rights to operate our businesses," Mr Gillam said. "We are now being challenged by these external groups to justify every aspect of our production methods.

"From how to transport our livestock and our support for the live trade, to the types of crops we can grow and how we can deliver it to market, or whether we are able to clear our land without facing prosecution and public condemnation."

Property rights is an ever-increasing issue in agriculture and on that topic, Mr Gillam said clearing ban regulations in WA had changed the definition and security of rural land ownership. He said private property rights of rural landowners would continue to be diminished until there was a comprehensive review of the Environmental Protection Act and the establishment of an independent appeals process.

"This removal of key rights of ownership of private property has been exacerbated by requirements set down under Kyoto and other climate change related protocols, which have been established to satisfy the demands of environmental activists," he said….

Farm settlement at Gracemere, west of Rockhampton. Dairy featured in this country postcard of the farming area of Gracemere. Notes on the back of the postcard read:'The butter produced in Queensland during 1906 weighed 22,746, 593 lbs.The postcoard was part of the Franco-British Exhibition in 1908.'