Felix Ellis defends FPA's actions against Fergusson family

Government Minister Felix Ellis has defended the Forest Practice Forest Practices Authority's (FPA) decision to pursue legal action against an East Coast farming family.

William Farlie Fergusson was fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to unauthorised tree clearing on his family’s Grindstone Bay farm near Triabunna.

He was charged with the unauthorised clearance and conversion of 7.1 hectares of a threatened native vegetation community, specifically Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) dry forest and woodland, and the unauthorised clearing of 11.5 hectares of trees.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Lyons MP Carlo Di Falco asked Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis about the matter during Question time in state parliament on Tuesday.

“Farmers are fed up with the increasing regulations they are confronted with,” Mr Di Falco said.

“Do you accept that many farmers now feel the FPA is weighted more towards punishment and bureaucracy than practical environmental outcomes and productive agriculture?”

Mr Ellis confirmed that the Fergussons offered to remediate 27.1 hectares of the farm through replanting and revegetation, but no agreement was reached.

“It’s important to recognise that the FPA’s decision-making has clearly been upheld by the courts in this process,” he said.

“We encourage anyone who’s undergoing land clearing and other such activities to work closely with the FPA.

“There have been significant resources made available to particular communities so they can understand the complex nature of these ecosystems and what might be required if they go down the path of forest clearing, for example.”