Broadscale illegal land clearing set to increase after further job cuts

Broadscale illegal land clearing is set to increase across New South Wales following a decision by the Department of Environment and Climate Change to cut jobs.

"In March 2007 we had more than 40 officers policing illegal broadscale land clearing. We now have a situation where there will be fewer than 10 under proposed cuts by the Department of Environment and Climate Change", Stewart Little, Senior Industrial Officer at the Public Service Association of NSW said today.

"It is difficult to believe that during one of the worst droughts on record and during a time of public concern at climate change, the Department charged with policing illegal land clearing is cutting jobs." he continued.

This problem has arisen following the break-up of the Department of Natural Resources and the re-allocation of this function into the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The Department is currently investigating 1000 alleged incidents of illegal land clearing, with another 500 that have been reported since April 2007 being left unallocated.

"You now have the ridiculous situation where you have one or two officers that have the responsibility of policing areas the size of European countries, while large scale clearing goes on unabated in sensitive wetlands and ecosystems," Stewart Little said.

The above cuts are in addition to cuts made to Threatened Species and Protection of Environment positions made during 2005 and 2006.