QFF statement on Qld election

QUEENSLAND farmers will be looking for all political parties to set out visionary policies that drive productivity growth and profitability in the agricultural sector, now that the election date has been set at March 24.

QFF CEO Dan Galligan said agriculture is a key pillar of the Queensland economy, and it was promising to continue to be a strong performer into the future.

“Farmers will expect a new government to deliver leadership that can support growth, and also to not throw cumbersome regulatory hurdles and red tape upon the sector,” he said.

“We will expect all sides of politics to outline how they will deliver positive policies that underpin the profitability of agriculture, and to do so in a way that balances it with the State’s other big industry, the resources sector.

“The current government set a target for the agricultural sector to be worth $40 billion by 2020, and the LNP has a target of doubling food production by 2040.”

“This is the election where we need to see policies that spell out what each party would do to make that happen – policies, strategies and investments that go beyond targets.”

Mr Galligan added that farmers, QFF members, and journalists can keep up to date with rural policy issues during the campaign via QFF’s Twitter feed, @QldFarmers.

“We will continue our regular commentary in the Weekly Bulletin and the media, but we will also be responding to issues immediately through Twitter.”

Mr Galligan also noted that farmers would expect the current government to continue operating as normal until February 19, when caretaker mode will begin.

“The reality is that the campaign has now begun. But farmers will expect the machinery of government to continue operating over the next month and that important policy issues continue to move forward.”