Yesterday morning, around 10am, he rode his horse along the eighth lane of the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the city to raise awareness among metropolitan residents about the state government’s new approach to the protection of native vegetation.

Mr Morris is the general manager of FigTrees Organic Farms, which produces beef and pork on two properties at Inverell and Grafton, and is a passionate campaigner for sustainable farming practices, and the impact of climate change. His high-profile stunt comes just days before public consultation closes on the state government’s new biodiversity and conservation laws, which will replace the contentious Native Vegetation Act.

The government says the new Biodiversity and Conservation Act offers farmers greater flexibility when it comes to improving their land and increasing profitability, while still ensuring the protection of native species, however critics maintain it will make it easier for big agribusiness and property developers to clear native bushland.

For Mr Morris, the threat is real.

“We need vegetation on farms to protect healthy soils and rivers, and yet the state government plans to allow important native vegetation to be cleared more easily,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Police stopped and spoke to Mr Morris near the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, but no action has been taken at this stage.

A police spokesman said yesterday afternoon that no action had been taken against him at that time, but inquiries were continuing.