THE first community Cabinet meetings of the re-elected Bligh Government at Highfields on April 26 and Gatton on April 27 are expected to be fiery affairs with rural landholders expected to express their anger over controversial new bans on clearing regrowth and the mining of prime agricultural land.
Opposition Natural Resources spokesman Jeff Seeney said the Bligh Government had seriously underestimated the level of anger in the bush, particularly following the introduction of its retrospective laws banning the future management of so-called endangered regrowth.
"There is an incredible sense of betrayal out there," Mr Seeney said.
"It is even greater than when the original Vegetation Management Act was introduced.
"Queensland landholders have tried to do the right thing and tried to work with the Government.
"Now Bligh and her team have pandered to the Greens at the expense of decent, hard-working people.
"People are justifiably angry over this contemptuous treatment."
Ms Bligh said she urged all residents of the city and the Darling Downs region to take advantage of the opportunity to have one-on-one contact with her Government ministers.
"Community Cabinet is about ensuring I, as Premier, and each of my ministers and key senior bureaucrats are staying in touch with Queenslanders," Ms Bligh said.
"It's about keeping us as a Cabinet meeting with, and listening to, Queenslanders on their turf and on their terms."
* Deputation requests must be submitted by noon, Friday, April 17, to communitycabinet@premiers.qld.gov .au or 1800 448 377.
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