ACF spokesman Andrew Piccone has been quoted in media saying, “The marginal and unimaginative industries of last century - big cattle, big agriculture and big mining … are in fact the greatest threat to the area’s prosperity.”

IPA reserach fellow Daniel Wild said the comments were “simply astounding”.

“For decades green groups have been influential in forcing burdensome red tape upon the coal industry. They are now moving on to agriculture. It is anyone’s guess who they will take aim at next.”

“It’s clear that they are using environmental conservation as a foil for shutting down Australia’s primary industries.”

‘A recent Productivity Commission draft report into regulation of agriculture highlighted the breathtaking array of complex red tape our farmers are burdened with every day. Much of this red tape is pushed by green groups not with the intention of protecting the environment, but to shut down productive industries.’

The agriculture sector employs some 350,000 people across the country. Many of these jobs will be under threat should this assault by the Australian Conservation Foundation and other green groups continue.

‘Government’s should support our primary producers and farmers against malicious red tape sponsored by anti-

development green groups,’ said Mr Wild.