Sustainable Agriculture

Queensland has great diversity of natural resources, from the rich soils of our agricultural land to the magnificent flora and fauna of her bushland areas. These resources are crucial to our living standards as they are the basis of much of Queensland’s economic activity including, agriculture, forestry mining, and much tourism. They are also a source of aesthetic, cultural and spiritual value for the community. Sustainable use of these natural resources is paramount - livelihoods depend on them.

The increasing community focus on the sustainable use of natural resources and the consumer and market demand for ’clean and green’ agricultural produce, is stronger than ever, and ensures that the environment and natural resource management remains a key policy area for the Federation. The portfolio is supported by the QFF Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which was established in 1994 to provide a forum to canvass each of the environmental issues facing rural industry. The Committee meets quarterly and with a strong membership base is responsible for dozens of complex policy issues. At present, environmental and natural resources management issues of focus include:

- Agricultural Chemicals
- Commonwealth Legislation
- Great Barrier Reef
- Land Use Planning & Development
- On-farm Planning & Management
- Regional NRM Arrangements
- Salinity
- Vegetation Management
- Water Quality
- Weather, Climate & Greenhouse
- Weeds & Pest Animals

Reef Rescue
The Reef Rescue program is a five year, \$200 million investment by the Australian Government under its Caring for Our Country initiative. This initiative, takes a coordinated approach to restoring the health of Australia’s environment and building on improved land management practices.  The majority of Reef Rescue funds (\$146 million) are allocated to Water Quality Incentive Grants to support voluntary action by farmers and land managers in catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon to adopt good land management practices.  For more information see the Reef Rescue Fact Sheet. 

Submissions
The Environment and Natural Resources portfolio regularly provides submissions in response to the myriad of policy documents, Issues Papers, legislation and other efforts from Government agencies, the conservation sector and natural resource management organisations. Below are the Federation’s recent submissions from the Environment and Natural Resources portfolio:

2006
Submission to the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water on the Climate Smart Adaptation Paper (Mar 06)
Submission to the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation on the Integrated Planning Act 1997 Review (Mar 06)
Submisison to the Department of of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation on the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan (June 06)

2005
Submission to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines on the Options for Future Community Engagement in Regional Natural Resource Management Discussion Paper (Jun 05)
Submission to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries on its consultation paper - Licensing System for Agricultural Chemicals (Apr 05)
Submission to the Office of Urban Management on the Draft Southeast Queensland Regional Plan (Feb 05)

2004
Submission to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines on the draft State Land and Water Management Plan Guidelines (Dec 04)
Submission to the Environmental Protection Agency on its draft Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives projects (Dec 04)
Submission to the House of Representatives Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Standing Committee inquiry into the impact on agriculture of pest animals (May 04)
Submission to the Environmental Protection Agency on the Queensland Biodiversity Policy Framework: Sustaining our Natural Wealth (Mar 04)

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