Fed: Govt attacks Beattie over compensation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1999
Fed: Govt attacks Beattie over compensation

The federal government has denied ever agreeing to provide $100 million in compensation
for farmers for new tree clearing restrictions in Queensland.

Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE has renewed calls for the federal government to guarantee
the funding package.

The call follows state Environment Minister ROD WELFORD'S move to introduce the Vegetation
Management Bill to parliament after a final round of negotiations with farmers and conservationists.

The tree clearing legislation will preserve 30 per cent of the original vegetation
that covered the state when Europeans first arrived in 1788.

But federal Environment Minister ROBERT HILL, although not ruling out compensation,
says the commonwealth has never agreed on a figure of $100 million.

AAP RTV lm/mfh/wz/jn b

KEYWORD: TREES HILL (CANBERRA)

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