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Cases / Law, regulation and treaties · Australia · 2013–2018

Queensland loosened vegetation clearing rules, then reintroduced them in 2018

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 4 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

Queensland relaxed its vegetation clearing laws in 2013 and reintroduced them in 2018 to reduce clearance rates. At stake is vegetation cover; about 400,000 hectares were reported cleared in 2015 to 2016.

What?
Queensland loosened vegetation clearing laws in 2013 and reintroduced them in 2018 Clayton Utz
Where?
Queensland, Australia Clayton Utz
When?
2013 to 2018 Clayton Utz
Who?
Gained
None on record
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
The 2018 reintroduction was aimed at reducing clearance rates. Clayton Utz
How?
Changes to state vegetation clearing laws Clayton Utz
5 of 6 questions answered from the record · open: who

What happened

The record, in order.

Queensland loosened its vegetation clearing laws in 2013, according to Clayton Utz [0].

Clayton Utz reported that the laws were reintroduced in 2018 to reduce clearance rates [0].

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The figure of about 400,000 hectares cleared in 2015 to 2016 has no source link in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record The reasons for the 2013 loosening are not stated in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record Who gained from the clearing is not stated.
    • None on record A 2025 EDO (edo.org.au) link on Queensland environment reforms is listed without a description and is not used.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: ✓ Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Company or project

    1. To clear or not to clear
      Clayton Utz · 2018-03
    Terms used on this page

    Science and environment

    Hectare (ha)
    A unit of area equal to 10,000 square metres, about 2.5 acres. 100 hectares make one square kilometre.
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