NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin has strongly criticised activists in the NSW Government following media reports on land clearing.
On Friday, media reports incorrectly claimed NSW was “a global hotspot for deforestation”, citing NSW Government figures claiming “landowners cleared land equivalent to almost twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory over the five years to 2023”.
But NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said these “cherry-picked” numbers had been weaponised to falsely paint farmers as environmental vandals.
“It’s very sad to see these baseless attacks on the farmers that feed and clothe our nation continue, this time from activists within the NSW Government itself,” Mr Martin said.
“The amount of land cleared stated as facts is wrong, alarmist and irresponsible, and it’s clear they are designed to demonise farmers rather than continue a productive conversation on protecting the environment.
“Australian farming practices are world-leading – and we have made significant progress on this issue, but that is being undermined by the people pushing an activist agenda.”
Clearing figures made no reference to the amount of land set aside for conservation, which was roughly four times as large, Mr Martin said. While the NSW Government claimed 420,000ha had been cleared of native vegetation from 2018 to 2022, it miscalculated the environmentally beneficial clearing of invasive native species.
Mr Martin said the NSW Government knew the actual amounts of land cleared were dwarfed by plantings and environmental gains, including on-farm conservation efforts and setting aside of farmers’ land for the environment, but this had been wilfully ignored or distorted.
“The activist strategy of using incorrect deforestation figures may have far-reaching consequences for all Australians,” Mr Martin said.
“This will impact our international markets and undermine the genuine environmental and sustainability credentials of Australian farmers.
“There is clear evidence that partnering with farmers improves conservation outcomes – such as the fact that forest cover in NSW has increased every year since 2007 – but this has been deliberately distorted by those who simply want to sell a message.
“I am deeply disappointed the NSW Government has taken this approach, and I call on NSW Premier Chris Minns to recommit to a constructive dialogue with agriculture.”
