I’ll go to jail again for clearing: farmer

Max Szulc. Picture: Sharon Smith/The West Australian

A farmer who has served two jail terms for contempt of court has thrown down the gauntlet to the State's top judge and the Department of Environmental Regulation by clearing land on his Munglinup property.

Max Szulc said yesterday that he had been busy clearing native vegetation regrowth on his farm since being released from jail in February after spending 15 months behind bars.

Chief Justice Wayne Martin has sent Mr Szulc to jail twice for contempt of court - the first time for three months - over a clearing dispute that started in 2009.

The 65-year-old said he was willing to go to jail for a third time over the issue which he admitted had "bled him dry".

"I've been busy clearing land since I got out of jail. I'm convinced they (DER, formerly known as the Department of Conservation) have been watching me through satellite images but they haven't bothered coming out," Mr Szulc said. "I'm prepared to go back to jail."

Mr Szulc said he felt vindicated last week when the State Government relaxed laws on land clearing that have led to a series of bitter court battles with farmers.

The changes allow farmers to clear 5ha of native vegetation a year for farm management and infrastructure projects, up from 1ha a year.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob also moved to slash protection on native vegetation regrowth on land previously used for agriculture. Farmers can now unlock land legally cleared in the past 20 years instead of the previous 10-year limit.

"Even before the regulations were changed last week I believed I was right," Mr Szulc said. "The whole issue is the land was legally cleared in the past, the vegetation was written off at that time and now they want to reclaim it."

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I'll go to jail again for clearing: farmer