Pastoral Land Management and Conservation (Use of Pastoral Land) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 6 July 2023.)

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (17:21): Today, I rise to speak in support of the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation (Use of Pastoral Land) Amendment Bill 2023. This bill, as the Deputy Premier has previously stated, is a confirmation of our government's election commitment to affirm that pastoral leases can be utilised for carbon farming and conservation purposes. This is a step towards not only enabling more climate mitigation actions to be undertaken but also empowering our pastoral leaseholders with more economic opportunities whilst safeguarding our invaluable environment. It is a move towards sustainable land management and a testament to our commitment to act on climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

A remarkable 40 per cent of our state's land area, constituting 323 pastoral leases, is comprised of pastoral land. These leases are primarily used for grazing or raising livestock, but a few are already being utilised for conservation and carbon farming. This bill will cement the authority of the Pastoral Board to approve these uses, representing a reaffirmation of our commitment to sustainable land management. This is of considerable significance given the vast land area that this affects.

This bill is a clear manifestation of our commitment to addressing climate change and the biodiversity crisis. It aligns with the federal government's plan to protect 30 per cent of our land by 2030, contributing to a nature-positive Australia. The current biodiversity crisis has already claimed too many casualties, and this bill is a step towards halting and reversing this trend. The latest State of the Environment report painted a bleak picture of Australia's ecological indicators, reporting that at least 19 Australian ecosystems are on the brink of collapse, a harrowing threat to biodiversity and ecological maintenance contributed by climate change due to fossil fuels.

The introduction of this bill will ensure that heritage agreements can be used on these properties, helping to stall the crisis and rebuild our precious natural biodiversity. It will contribute to ecologically sustainable development and open avenues for funding conservation activities on leases. The state government is already providing $6 million to support existing heritage agreements and to enable new ones. This will ensure that landowners are supported in maintaining and enhancing these areas, which are critical to building ecological resilience to climate change.

Heritage agreements have proved their effectiveness in enhancing our state's biodiversity, as evidenced in my community of Waite, which houses several properties with heritage agreements. The Bandicoot Superhighway Project is a prime example of their effectiveness. Through heritage agreements and protection of the designated biodiversity, it has increased the threatened southern brown bandicoot's available habitat, reducing harmful habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, the increased funding from the state government for these agreements has provided landholders with additional resources for conservation activities, such as weed mitigation. This will now be a confirmed benefit that can be used by pastoral leaseholders.

This bill will also enhance the ability to use the leased land for Significant Environmental Benefit offsets. These credits can be gained for actions, such as excluding stock from areas to protect native vegetation, controlling weeds and feral animals, and revegetation. This is a crucial action during the current climate emergency to ensure that we can sequester more carbon and incentivise doing so on 40 per cent of our land. The confirmation of carbon farming as a legitimate land use for pastoral uses will further this cause, with landholders being able to gain both economically and environmentally from diversified land use. This incentivisation of sustainable land management will make significant differences in the long-term resilience of our state's valuable ecological systems.

Importantly, this bill will not impact on native title rights or agreements. It will continue to ensure that native title obligations are resolved prior to any decision for approval of changes in use or conditions of pastoral leases. Additionally, the Pastoral Board's powers in relation to the management of pastoral lands will not change, and current leases will not change. All leaseholders will still need to actively manage their leases and remain subject to pastoral act obligations, such as requirements to maintain fencing and watering points unless conditions are varied by the Pastoral Board.

These changes are about opening up more economic opportunities in 40 per cent of our state while enhancing our ecological and climate resilience. It is about ensuring a sustainable future for South Australia, its people and its diverse ecosystems. It is a testament to our commitment to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability to ensure that South Australia remains a vibrant, thriving state for generations to come.

This bill recognises the significant work that lessees, Aboriginal people and regional communities have been undertaking for over 30 years to manage these lands in diverse ways. It provides leaseholders with opportunities to receive funding for conservation activities on their lease, providing tangible incentives for leaseholders to engage in sustainable land management and conservation efforts.

This legislation has been informed through consultation with a range of organisations that have a close interest in pastoral land management, including the Pastoral Board, Livestock SA, Primary Producers, Conservation Council SA, SA Nature Alliance, SA Native Title Services and First Nations of South Australia. This wideranging consultation process highlights the collaborative and inclusive approach that our government has taken in developing this legislation.

In conclusion, the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation (Use of Pastoral Land) Amendment Bill 2023 is a crucial piece of legislation that will greatly contribute to the sustainable management of our pastoral lands. I urge the members of this house to join me in supporting this bill and, in doing so, support a sustainable future for South Australia.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (17:28): I rise to speak on the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation (Use of Pastoral Land) Amendment Bill 2023. My electorate of Gibson has an interesting pastoral history, and this bill will allow carbon to be returned to our land and conservation to continue alongside pastoralism.

Oaklands Estate in my electorate was part of an extensive pastoral property founded by Samuel Kearne in 1844. Here we now have the beautiful Oaklands Wetland and reserve, where my dog Freya likes to go for a walk; Oaklands Estate Reserve, where I like to parkrun on most Saturdays; and the Warradale Army Barracks. These barracks were formerly the estate farm and were acquired as the site of an Army camp during both world wars. They were acquired for their present use in 1945.

The current reserve contains remnant plantings from the original homestead, and there are very significant native river red gums. It is still possible to see where the Kaurna people stripped bark from some trees in the reserve and the Army barracks to make coolamons, basin-shaped wooden dishes. There are also the vines nearby, operated by Patritti Wines, who have their winery and cellar door in my electorate. These wines are a reminder that for over a century the main industry of our area was wine and table grape production.

This bill confirms that conservation and carbon farming are permissible on pastoral leases. A pastoral lease allows the occupation and use of Crown land for grazing or raising livestock, known as pastoralism. There are 323 pastoral leases that cover of 40 per cent of South Australia. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

At 17:30 the house adjourned until Tuesday 26 September 2023 at 11:00.