The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has questioned whether environmental compliance officers have to meet targets during the first native vegetation laws Senate hearing in Wagga Wagga. 

Senator Williams, a member of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee, cited the case of a northern New South Wales farmer who, in the process or clearing blackberry bushes and ripping rabbit warrens, had impacted on nearby trees.

After being threatened with a heavy fine by a compliance officer from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, the farmer sought legal representation, and his solicitor has signed an affidavit that when he asked why his client was being pursued, the compliance officer replied "we must have so many prosecutions a year" or words to that effect.

Senator Williams asked the Departmental officials at the hearing if that was the policy, but they rejected that.

He also raised the case of a North Coast farmer who wanted to convert his property, which had been running cattle for over 100 years, from perpetual lease to freehold, but then found there were caveats that wouldn't allow cattle to be run under freehold.

"Perhaps most astonishing of all is the revelation from NSW Farmers Association that in some cases where land is converted from perpetual lease to freehold, the owner cannot use any chemical to spray noxious weeds if there is a danger to surrounding native grasses.

From just four hours of evidence it became clear how hamstrung farmers are, all because the State Labor Government has pandered to the Greens.

No doubt there will be many more such cases brought before the Senate Committee hearings", Senator Williams said.