13 July 2026
AgForce members impacted by the changes to national environmental legislation have had the opportunity to directly engage with the National Environment Protection Agency (EPA) during two days of site visits in Central Queensland.
New National EPA CEO John Bradley and staff visited two properties: Ian and Kate McCamley’s cattle property at Rolleston, and Grant and Carly Burnham’s property, Bonnie Doone, at Monto.
The trip was organised by AgForce as an opportunity for constructive talks about the impact of reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act on day-to-day agricultural operations.
AgForce CEO Niki Ford said the engagement was an important chance for the agency to appreciate producers’ point of view.
“The National EPA was able to ask a series of questions about farming practices, but more importantly to understand the practical realities facing producers and hear directly about their experiences, concerns and ideas,” Ms Ford said.
“It’s good to see in these early days of the National EPA that intention is on track, but it needs to result in real outcomes for producers.
“The ability to have frank and direct discussions was constructive and positive, with Mr Bradley keen to find solutions to the issues raised.
“The message to NEPA was that most producers deliver strong biodiversity outcomes in the management of their land.”
Also making the case for producers across the state were AgForce General President Shane McCarthy, representatives from Cattle Australia, Russell Pastoral Operations Managing Director Adam Armstrong from AgForce’s EPBC Taskforce and Mark Collins, the Chair of the AgForce Sustainability Committee.
The first visit was to MCC Pastoral in Rolleston, an award-winning family-owned business, recognised for its progressive grazing management and sustainable grass-fed beef production.
The McCamleys are also involved in research projects on grazing management and landscape condition outcomes, with a flux tower on site to measure emissions.
The group examined the brigalow landscape and looked at how vegetation is managed on the property.
Ian McCamley is a proponent of careful ground cover management and explained the challenges associated with self-assessment under the EPBC Act reforms to the departmental visitors.
“We need to find a way to ensure that biodiversity doesn’t come at the cost of topsoil, or that of the degraded brigalow systems they viewed this week,” he said.
“While it was great to hear the National EPA assure us the activity could be managed, we want those assurances in written form to give producers clarity and surety.”
Day two saw a visit to Bonnie Doone, Carly and Grant Burnham’s beef grazing, grass growing, carbon sequestering property.
The Burnham family are recognised leaders in demonstrating how productive agriculture can co-exist with biodiversity conservation while regenerating landscapes over the long term.
Carly Burnham said the visit was a chance to show the impact of the stringent compliance regulations outlined under the Act.
She was eager to show what it means to work in rhythm with an ecological farming environment.
“We describe ourselves as ecological graziers,” she said.
“These changes to the environmental legislation are focused on protecting areas of national environmental significance and as custodians of the land, we’re doing just that,” said Ms Burnham.
Ms Ford said AgForce would continue engaging with the federal agency to ensure producers’ concerns are addressed and their expertise acknowledged and considered.
“The properties we have visited over the past two days are a powerful example of how modern farming can deliver strong production outcomes while protecting biodiversity and building healthier, more resilient landscapes,” Ms Ford said.
“AgForce remains committed to working constructively with the National EPA to ensure the implementation of the EPBC Act is practical, proportionate and informed by on-ground experience.
“Bringing producers and regulators together is critical to achieving better environmental outcomes while maintaining a productive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector.”