Speakers from farmers’ groups, industry and environmentalists addressed the rally, denouncing the gradual erosion of farmers’ property rights in recent years.

Key points were that farmers had done the heavy lifting in meeting Australia’s Kyoto protocol obligations, have for years been proactive in carbon sequestration and land conservation and were being undermined as land managers by government policy.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott used the rally to attack the Government’s plan to introduce an emissions trading scheme, while the Government simply ignored the protest.

Many landholders have complained that native vegetation laws prevent them from using parts of their land for farming purposes.

The Inverell District Council of the NSW Farmers Association will hold a meeting next Friday, February 12, at the RSM auditorium to discuss the rally and further action that will be taken.

Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chairman Rod Young will be the guest speaker for the evening.

Mr Young said several property rights issues will be addressed and those attending will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences. “The meeting will be an opportunity for local landowners to catch up with the latest on property right issues,” Mr Young said.

“Such as native vegetation, perpetual lease conversions and covenants, water management including stock and domestic, National Park management including fire issues and invasive pest animals, land use planning and mining.”

The meeting will also discuss the current drought facing Inverell farmers and the importance of Exceptional Circumstances funding.

To enable the Inverell District of the NSW Farmers Association to take the next step for EC funding a number of affected farmers are required to provide information outlining their circumstances.

They are compiling data including rainfall figures, the effect the drought has had on stocking rates, cropping rates and income.