NSW 
11th January 2004

To-
The Native Vegetation Inquiry
Productivity Commission
LB 2,Collins Street East
Melbourne Vic. 8003.

Re‑Submission On Productivity Commission Draft Report.

Thank you for the Draft Copy of the above Report which I would like to make comment on.

I consider that the Draft Report has not given sufficient attention to the eroding of Landowners basic property rights which, I believe, under the Australian Constitution should have been guaranteed.

It is my opinion that pending NSW State Government legislation to further regulate land clearing is an example which poses a real danger to the Right of the Farmer to retain a sufficient area of agricultural land to enable their Enterprise to economically survive. To me it would appear that elements of the radical Green Movement are determined to exert pressure on the various State Governments in an attempt to drive productive Farmers off their land by means of Regulations and Restrictions which will eventually render their Enterprise nor viable.

I believe, that in the Real World there has to be a limit to the seemingly endless intrusion by short sighted people for Rural Australia to survive. These people fail to grasp that more and more Fire Prone National Parks and Wilderness areas do not produce food to feed a growing population. 

To me the Draft Report should have devoted Less time on Landowners alleged failure to care for their Properties and concentrated More on examining in greater detail the far more important issue of Property Rights and what protections are lawfully available to assist Landowners. I believe, that such protection should ensure that Property Owners have the Democratic Right to earn a viable living from the Land. they own without unfair interference from Governments, Academics, Trendy Theorists and Minority Groups all with no blisters on their hands.

It is my opinion that unless the issue of “Property Rights” is resolved clearly and concisely by an unbiased investigative Commission and the subsequent Report recommendations supported by the Government both Federal and State a situation could arise where Landowners will become no more then Tennants of the land they are supposed to own.

This situation where the State assumes real ownership is certainly not what the Australian Constitution sought to deliver and is also a sure way to undermine the Nations Rural Economy and the Environment.

It is a well known fact that once you take away the Incentive and Pride of Owner Management in almost every case there is a quick deterioration in Production and Profit no matter what the Enterprise is. In the case of Land Management without Incentive Noxious weeds and other problems soon surface to the detriment of the Environment and the National Gross Product.

In regard to the final Report to be presented during the Autumn I believe that the Presentation and Discussion on such an important Document should take place in the National Capital where Laws, Acts and Regulations are formulated hopefully in accordance with the Australian Constitution.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Irwin Cole