Over 4000 farmers rallied in Canberra at the NSW Farmers’ Association’s Property Rights Rally this week, and association president Charles Armstrong says this clearly shows there are serious concerns that need to be examined.

“The NSW Farmers’ Association has been working for years to get Government to understand how badly these laws effect production for farmers, and we are very pleased the Senate will look at these issues,” he said.

“We are extremely worried that farmers continually face an erosion of their property rights through governmental legislation that often doesn’t recognise this impact,” he said.

“The Productivity Commission estimates that the cost in lost production caused by bans placed on farmers developing their own land is $600 million annually,” he said.

“Barnaby Joyce was very positively received when he told Tuesday’s rally he would be seeking a Senate Inquiry, and this next step is very welcome to the farming community. The policy makers must understand that farmland is the actual means of production for a farmer, not simply the site for a house, a shop or a factory,” he said.

The NSW Farmers’ Association is planning on making a submission to the Inquiry, and will be discussing this with the National Farmers’ Federation at the earliest opportunity.

“For the thousands of farmers who travelled to Canberra to say enough is enough, and the thousands more who have signed our petition, this is a win.

“We look forward to working with the inquiry for a solution to the erosion of property rights,” Mr Armstrong said.