Latest news with #QLD
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
ACF says satellite evidence shows mass native habitat destruction by farmers
Investigations are under way into a report by a leading conservation group that farmers have illegally cleared thousands of hectares of native bushland across Australia in a few years. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) used satellite images and on-the-ground volunteers to document what it says are 90,000 hectares, or 900 square kilometres, of lost bush on 176 properties in NSW, QLD, WA and NT. It says all the sites contained threatened species habitat and the land cleared between 2020 and 2025 equalled an area the size of about 320 Sydney CBDs. ACF business and nature lead, Nathaniel Pelle, said beef production was the primary culprit. "Among these 90,000 hectares that we've identified, the majority of it is identifiable as cattle properties," he said. "It's all pretty mature bush that is being cleared here … some of it might be 20-year-old regrowth and that's still valuable habitat for species." Retired IT professional Ruth Hughes took part in the project as a citizen scientist comparing before-and-after satellite images. "ACF has set it up and we get these shots of high-value nature areas," Ms Hughes said. Land clearing likely to impact threatened species must receive federal approval through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). ACF claimed none of the land clearing it documented had EPBC approval. Mr Pelle said federal and state governments had to do more to protect Australia from further deforestation. "Unfortunately, federal and state authorities are not properly monitoring or protecting habitat across the country," he said. "It is extremely important that we don't allow environmental degradation to continue. The ACF said the majority of the land clearing was in NSW and Queensland. State and territory governments are the main bodies responsible for enforcing land management and policing land clearing. The NSW government confirmed it received material from the ACF and has launched an investigation. "The department has received and is investigating allegations referred by the ACF," said a Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spokesperson. "We are unable to comment on cases currently under investigation, as it could impact future legal processes." Queensland's Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development said it investigated all land clearing allegations, "including from ACF". The National Farmers Federation (NFF) hit back at the report. President David Jochinke said the report was full of holes, anti-agriculture and gave no credence to the hard work farmers undertook to preserve biodiversity and habitats. "You tell me how much of that 90,000 hectares is woody weed management … how much of that 90,000 hectares were legitimately cleared with offsets?" Mr Jochinke told the NSW Country Hour. "This so-called report is just an attack on agriculture, without even any context or knowledge of both what land stewardship is and how agriculture looks after over half of Australia's natural environment. Mr Jochinke said the NFF opposed illegal land clearing "but we know the majority of farmers do the right thing … and actually offset a lot of their land management". He said the majority of farmers worked with Landcare and other organisations to plant trees and regenerate farmland. "We understand we've got to look after nature because it absolutely helps our production systems," he said.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NSW settled, despite To�o concerns
NRL: The NSW Blues prepare for game two in Perth with a stacked and settled team, contrasting a QLD team full of shakeups.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Johns announces MASSIVE NEWS about his future 🚨🚨: Freddy & the Eighth
Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns and Danika Mason are joined by our biggest guest yet! The NSW Premier Chris Minns is in the house to chat footy and his beloved Bulldogs. The boys break down the changes to the NSW and QLD squads ahead of Game II. Angus Crichton takes a cheeky swipe at Freddy like he did with Gus on 100% Footy. Plus, the 8th Immortal shares some breaking news about his future!
The Age
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Johns announces MASSIVE NEWS about his future 🚨🚨: Freddy & the Eighth
Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns and Danika Mason are joined by our biggest guest yet! The NSW Premier Chris Minns is in the house to chat footy and his beloved Bulldogs. The boys break down the changes to the NSW and QLD squads ahead of Game II. Angus Crichton takes a cheeky swipe at Freddy like he did with Gus on 100% Footy. Plus, the 8th Immortal shares some breaking news about his future!
Sydney Morning Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Locky explains the Maroons Game II changes: QLDER
QLD legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer discuss the massive changes for State of Origin game 2 and how they think this could be the change that Queensland needs. Wally and Locky reminisce on what it means to be a Queensland captain in light of Cameron Munsters appointment, and how will Tom Dearden rise to the occasion as he takes over a star role on the starting side?
