Australia's PM awarded "Golden Bulldozer"

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been awarded the Golden Bulldozer trophy by The Wilderness Society

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australia's Prime Minister John Howard has been awarded the "Golden Bulldozer" trophy by a national environmental group which claims his government has presided over one of the highest rates of land clearing in the world.

The Australian Wilderness Society says that more than 1.7 million hectares of bushland have been destroyed under Howard's leadership in the last four years.

The society declared Howard and his state premier in Queensland as joint winners, presenting the unsuspecting Premier Peter Beattie with his trophy at a public function Thursday.

"It's time to create national laws to control land clearing, and fund a financial package to help farmers manage their land sustainably," said Land Clearing Campaigner Louise Matthiesson.

The Society plans to present Howard with his award at the next opportunity, but Premier Beattie told local press he would pass his trophy on to the Prime Minister.

The Wilderness Society, a community-based, environmental advocacy organization, has secured the protection of over seven million hectares of wilderness in Australia.