Hundreds of farmers have gathered in northern Queensland to protest against an environment bill they say is "demonising" the agriculture industry.

Key points: Hundreds of farmers have rallied in northern Qld to protest against new regulations to protect the Great Barrier Reef

Hundreds of farmers have rallied in northern Qld to protest against new regulations to protect the Great Barrier Reef The Government says it is not trying to avoid debate on the subject, but the matter will not be raised in Townsville this week

The Government says it is not trying to avoid debate on the subject, but the matter will not be raised in Townsville this week The Opposition is standing against the new laws, but the KAP is demanding the LNP take a stronger stance

The new regulations, designed to protect the Great Barrier Reef, will not be debated in Townsville this week, where Parliament is sitting for the first time in 17 years.

Great Barrier Reef Minister Leanne Enoch said the Government was not avoiding debate over the proposed laws, which would force farmers to reduce the amount of fertiliser and sediment leaving their property.

"Over the last … two-and-a-half years, there has been intensive consultation around protecting the Great Barrier Reef, in particular the outcomes of the 2016 scientific report in terms of water quality," Ms Enoch said.

"All of that consultation has not been to avoid the topic, but to absolutely embrace the topic and have some deep conversations with all those who are impacted and have a role to play in it."

Ms Enoch said reef regulations were necessary because the agriculture industry was dragging the chain.

"All the science gives us a pretty clear picture on this," she said.

"The outlook report and the water quality report, they give us some very strong signals that if we are not moving now, it will be more and more difficult to protect the reef into the future."

An anti-beef protester joins the throng of picketers outside Parliament in Townsville, in order to support the reef regulations bill. ( ABC Rural: Tom Major )

Farmers say efforts overlooked

Burdekin cane grower Phil Marano said the proposed rules, which could see private data handed over to regulators policing the reef, failed to acknowledge that most farmers were already controlling their run-off.

"We are innovative and we are always striving for best practice and government just doesn't seem to recognise that," Mr Marano said.

Rural news in your inbox? Subscribe for the national headlines of the day.

He said he was concerned the legislation could allow the Government to demand farmers' data from their agronomists.

"I've always said, I'm happy to share my information with government, but all they need to do is ask me.

"Unfortunately, [the government] believes farmers are liars and won't tell the truth, and we are guilty until we can prove ourselves innocent."

Rally organiser Michael Kern said his group, Farmers United, wanted to see independent oversight of the science used to model the regulations, and promised farmers and growers would respect the outcome.

He said the group supported the establishment of an office of quality assurance to doublecheck the science, a process he said would take up to two years.

"We have to accept that the 2017 scientific consensus statement is a reality — that's the starting point and we need to check [the science] from there," Mr Kern said.

"Farmers are being demonised by this new Reef bill.

"Heavy penalties are about to be imposed if this bill goes through, and they just want to know the truth.

"[But] whatever the results of the checking of the science proves, we will have to live with it."

Too many 'sticking points': LNP

The Liberal National Party said it would oppose the bill when it came before Parliament.

Member for Burdekin and shadow minister for natural resources, Dale Last, said huge progress had been made by the agriculture industry to reduce its impact on the Reef.

He said farmers should be most concerned that if the legislation was passed, a director-general could tighten it at any time in the future.

"That's one of the real sticking points for us, that so much power and authority is going to a bureaucrat with regard to farming practices and the ongoing compliance embedded within this legislation," Mr Last said.

"So this bureaucrat then has this head of power to make decision regarding the approval process and what hoops and hurdles these farmers have to go through to get approval to farm their land.

"What we're saying is, if you want that sort of power then it should go back to ministerial approval through regulation and not just [give it] to a bureaucrat."

The Queensland Government says reef runoff regulations are essential to protect the future of the Great Barrier Reef. ( ABC News )

Mr Last said improvements could be made without ostracising industry.

"It's more about consultation, it's more about understanding how farmers farm their land, but more importantly getting the message through to them that there is a concern about environmental sustainability, that they have their part to play, and holding them responsible," he said.

Mr Last also criticised the government for not debating the legislation in Townsville.

"There's a lot of anger out there at the moment about these Reef regulations and this Reef protection bill," he said.

"So I don't think the minister would want to have that debate in an area like Townsville.

"I think they will take it back to Brisbane and the relative protection that would be provided by being back in the city."

KAP calls for stronger stance

But the Katter Australia Party wants a firmer commitment from the LNP about its intentions should it win next year's state election.

Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter demanded a recall on the proposed reef regulations.

"It's a very serious issue and we want to stop it, but we're serious about it and we're putting the call out," Mr Katter said.

"[In the next parliament] it's looking more and more likely they're going to need more than one party to govern.

"If the LNP get in, we want a commitment from them now that in 100 days they'll repeal this legislation.