Environment groups accuse government of 'denying the facts' on land clearing

Environment department 'cherry picked' data to claim clearing has decreased, but figures show recent steady increase

Two of Australia's largest environment groups have accused the federal environment department of providing inaccurate information about land clearing to the Senate, and of not acting to reduce habitat loss.

The Australian Conservation Foundation and WWF Australia say the department has "cherry picked" data to claim that land clearing in Queensland has decreased, when national figures on land clearing rates in that state in fact show increases since 2011.