Appeasing Regional Australia

Claire Braund

February 2000

Report from Senator Robert Hill's address to The Sydney Institute

Appeasing regional Australia was clearly part of Senator Robert Hill's agenda at an address to The Sydney Institute in February.

Senator Hill, the Federal Minister for the Environment, assured Institute associates that he had a lot of time and sympathy for farmers affected by Government-imposed environmental standards and compensation had to be considered.

His comments followed a question from the NSW Farmer's Association President John Cobb, as to whether landholders would be compensated for the cost of environmental measures being demanded by the Australian urban community.

Senator Hill said he sympathised with farmers who were not made aware of the environmental impact of land clearing and agricultural practices and understood their request for some of the costs of repair to be borne by the Australian community.

The NSW Farmers' Association was out in force at The Sydney Institute lecture, obviously keen to follow up on gains they made the previous week in Wagga at a community salinity summit. Participants at the summit will seek a taxpayer levy, similar to the East Timor levy, to help pay for the cost of overcoming salinity problems.

Senator Hill used to the occasion to say that Australia had an excellent record on the environment in areas such as coral reef and Dugong protection. He lamented the media's failure to mention any good news on Australia's record on the environment, saying he found it hard to believe that the community did not know these facts.