WEEKLY BULLETIN

GARY SANSOM STANDING DOWN AS QFF PRESIDENT

OUR members and many in Queensland rural industries would now be aware that Gary Sansom is standing down from the QFF presidency at tomorrow’s annual general meeting. While still continuing as a Director of QFF, Gary is concluding his duties as president after 10 years in the role. His service to the organisation dates back almost 20 years to when the organisation was formed. He has a very long list of achievements to his name at QFF and through his representative roles in the chicken meat industry. All current and past staff, our members, and many in rural industries are extremely grateful for Gary’s hard work at the organisation. QFF CEO Dan Galligan expressed his sincerest thanks to Gary and said that he would look forward to continuing to work with Gary in the future.

QFF AGM DINNER TONIGHT

MEANWHILE, QFF is holding its AGM dinner in Brisbane tonight, preceded by the AGM tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. A new president will be elected and announced tomorrow.

DROUGHT REVIEW PANEL RELEASES ITS WORK

THE independent review panel has released its findings of the Western Australia Pilot Study of seven Federal Government drought assistance measures proposed for the new National Drought Policy. These were developed following the 2008 Productivity Commission review of drought programs. QFF last week received a comprehensive briefing on the review panel’s findings from chair Mick Keogh who advised that some 450 farm families had received income support from Centrelink after signing mutual responsibility contracts that involved developing fully documented farm plans and actions to boost their drought preparedness and self-reliance capabilities. Some 422 comprehensive farm plans were completed and about 120 actioned with the help of grants of up to $60,000. The review panel concluded that the welfare safety net worked very well, especially because of the extra social services deployed via an “outreach model”. However, the Building Farm Business grants did not deliver the tangible outcomes hoped for and the panel has recommended they not be part of any new national climate risk programs. QFF is disappointed at this conclusion since it points to a disconnect in the management of mutual responsibility, farm planning and the specific actions to ameliorate climate risks. QFF has long pointed out that the trial needs to go beyond Western Australia farming systems to cover more comprehensive ways to counter drought and climate extremes. The panel’s report is available on the Drought Pilot website.

DEEP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FLOODS

Queensland Chief Scientist Geoff Garrett hosted a public forum last week to review a report of the comprehensive panel of technical experts he assembled to help science and engineering come together to help Queenslanders better manage floods and flood risks. Three of that panel provided an update on progress to provide better seasonal and regional forecasts to assist both planners and the community to be better prepared. Professor Roger Stone explained the linkages between typical La Nina circulation patterns and Queensland floods, and Tony McAlister showed how various modelling techniques are being linked to provide comprehensive guidance for flood preparedness and risk management. This work is ongoing and is delivering improved forecast skill as work progresses. The current Understanding Floods report is available on the Chief Scientist’s website.

EXTENSION BIDS KNOCKED BACK FOR SEVERAL IMPORTANT RURAL RESEARCH BODIES

SEVERAL successful rural research organisations are facing the budgetary axe as the Federal Government continues with its assessment process for funding for Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). Extension bids for the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC, the Beef Genetics CRC and the Forestry CRC were all rejected by the Federal Government on Thursday. With the termination of these CRCs now due to occur next year, it is a heavy blow to rural industry, the research agenda, and regional communities. While QFF accepts that the CRC program was always designed so that CRCs had a finite ‘lifespan’, the loss of CRCs such as the Cotton CRC will be a loss for the industry, both in the immediate and the long term. A further 10 CRC rebids have been approved to the next phase, while a further five of these are expected to be rejected as part of the process. Rural CRCs in the next round include the Invasive Animals CRC and the Plant Biosecurity CRC.

WATER CONSULTATION GROUP MEETS

THE Water Consultation Group convened by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) met last week to review a range of water and related reform issues. Representatives from peak stakeholder groups including QFF, AgForce, Queensland Conservation Council and SunWater attended together with officers from DERM, the Queensland Water Commission, SEQ Water and the Coordinator General’s Department. The meeting provided briefings on amendments to legislation currently before the Parliament including amendments to the Water Act as part of the Water and Other Legislation Bill 2011 and as part of the Waste Recycling Bill 2011. An overview was also provided of the new Queensland Parliamentary Committee process which is currently reviewing this legislation. Recent QFF Weekly Bulletins have outlined this new process. The meeting was also briefed on the progress of investigations into an indigenous water policy to address both cultural and economic water needs of indigenous communities. Meetings of this Group are held as required but usually at least three meetings are convened each year.

QFF WATER POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING

THE Queensland Competition Authority investigation of SunWater prices was again a high priority for discussion at the QFF Water Policy Committee meeting held last week. Issues that may require further policy clarification or could have implications for the implementation of water plans or water trading were discussed in some detail in order to prepare a submission to ongoing deliberations over prices. Committee members expressed some concern that new prices may not result in changes in the running of SuWater schemes because of a range of impediments to the conduct of the investigations, including the difficulties faced in obtaining adequate data on the schemes. Other matters discussed included progress with joint investigations DERM on improving on-farm practice, progress with the Murray Darling plan and issues under consideration for the conduct of a number of water resource plans and resource operations plans across the State. The meeting was briefed on draft legislation currently before Parliament involving amendments to the Water Act and the establishment of the new Parliamentary Committee process to review proposed legislation. The next meeting of the Committee will be held in early November.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON ACCESS AND COMPENSATION MATTERS

RURAL groups including QFF, the Basin Sustainability Alliance and AgForce are encouraging landowners who have had dealing with coal seam gas (CSG) companies to complete an online survey. The data from the survey will help guide policy discussions and improve current CSG negotiation processes. Your input is vital to ensure our voice is heard.
Please complete this quick online survey on access and compensation matters here.

LNP RELEASES REGIONAL ROADS POLICY

THE Liberal National Party has released its roads policy for regional areas. While the announcement is a very positive prospect for regional areas and recognises the urgent need for improvements on many roads, the policy has only a few details and is not supported with details on budgetary commitment. The LNP has promised to establish a ‘Roads to Resources’ program to better coordinate industry and government funds for strategic road construction and partnership projects in resource industry development areas. It would also work with all stakeholders including resource companies as well as federal and local governments, to attract real, co-ordinated investment in strategic regional road projects. In addition, it would consult with industry and Councils, as part of our Infrastructure Plan consultation process, to determine the appropriate level of State funding, and the final criteria for the Roads to Resources Program.

REGROWTH VEGETATION WORKSHOPS IN THE ATHERTON TABLELANDS

QFF is holding free vegetation and regrowth management workshops in Far North Queensland. The workshops will give participants background to Queensland’s Vegetation Management Act (1999) and vegetation framework, as well a detailed session on the recently released Regrowth Vegetation Code policy and procedures. They will be held at: Canegrowers Mareeba, on September 14 from 9.30am until 2pm; and on-farm at Eddie Wallworks property, 632 Maalan Rd, Palmerston, on September 15 from 10.30am to 2pm. The workshops would be useful for farmers who have questions about the protected native vegetation on their properties or are unsure of what the Regrowth Code is or how it applies to them. Landholders who have a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) or have not recently checked the DERM website to check their vegetation status on their property are also encouraged to attend. The workshops are free and lunch and morning tea will be provided. Please RSVP to Bronwyn Dwyer for the Mareeba workshop on (07) 4092 6065 and Kate Yeoman for the Palmerston workshop on (07) 4096 7227.

MEMBER NEWS

SURVEY LOOKS SET TO REVEAL THAT PUSH TO BAN DIURON IS BASED ON OLD DATA

THE latest push to ban diuron is based on old data says CANEGROWERS. It says banning the extremely important farm management tool is premature, and it is setting out to show that the cane industry’s use is actually a good deal lower than the current label recommendations. The results are now streaming in from a survey being to ascertain actual use on farm. So far the results are clearly showing that the industry has, off its own bat, already introduced much lower rates as part of best management practice sugarcane farming. “Initial data indicates that usage rates of the herbicide diuron is between 0.9-1.8kg active constituent per hectare per year,” says Steve Greenwood, CANEGROWERS CEO. He says this is considerably lower than the current label recommendations which are part of the review of diuron by the APVMA. The CANEGROWERS questionnaire was sent to every member and data has also been sourced from Productivity Boards and BSES Limited. He says a review of the data is underway, and if the science shows that the reduced rates now being used by the cane industry are no longer impacting water quality, then the important herbicide should get a stay of execution to give the industry time to develop viable alternatives.

OTHER NEWS

HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR AGRICULTURAL CENSUS FORM?

IT’S not too late. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has thanked the 23,000 Queensland agricultural businesses who have returned their 2011 Ag Census forms. However there are still over 10,000 forms (or 30%) outstanding. The Agricultural Census can be completed online, and agricultural businesses are encouraged to make use of this electronic option to provide their information. The Ag Census provides a detailed picture of what is happening in Australian agriculture at the regional level. It provides vital information on agricultural production, livestock numbers, and water and land management practices throughout Australia. The Ag Census is an opportunity for those on the land to give Australians a better insight into what is happening in the agricultural sector.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR RDA COMMITTEES

AN expression of interest process has commenced to fill Queensland Regional Development Australia (RDA) committee vacancies. Details of the process and the application form are available here. The process is also being advertised through a range of Queensland newspapers. The RDAs are looking for committee members with leadership, vision and the ability to champion regional interests. Experience in economic development, business or management, the environment, education, community services and/or social inclusion would be preferred. The committees aim to
• Provide advice to governments about regional issues
• Provide strategic input into national and state programs;
• Provide information to regional communities and local governments on national and state government initiatives;
• Help coordinate regional planning and regional development initiatives; and
• Work closely with local governments, community organisations and other regional organisations.
For information contact Denise Johnston on 3405 5217 or Tony Rolls on 3224 8619