Weekly Bulletin

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14 Dec 2009 WEEKLY BULLETIN December 14 2009

A NEW MINING LAND ACCESS FRAMEWORK A GOOD FIRST STEP
The State Government recently moved a small step forward to delivering an appropriate land access strategy and delivering on its commitment to introduce new measures to improve relationships between farmers and resource companies. In his announcement, the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said proposed changes to current land access requirements will be pivotal in creating a more equitable regime for explorers and farmers in the future. The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) believes the decision should deliver some hope for a better outcome for farmers in negotiating future land access arrangements with exploration companies. However, the task is far from complete, as Cabinet has only approved the preparation of legislative amendments that provide for a more consistent and transparent process that will improve landholders’ rights when their land is accessed for exploration. Pivotal to the changes will be the implementation of a legislative code of conduct to underpin explorers’ activities on lands. These amendments are required to put in place to give a clear message of consistent acceptable practice that should clarify expectations for everyone. QFF is concerned that existing draft agreements that landholders may be asked to enter into should follow the guidelines the Cabinet has requested for drafting into future legislation. To assist with the transition to the new scheme, QFF will be discussing with the Government the need to require current negotiations to take account of the issues already identified, particularly in relation to those issues around fair and reasonable conduct. In the mean time farmers who are currently negotiating with companies should make themselves aware of the proposed changes and raise them in their discussions with resource companies.

DRAFT CPRS AND RET REGULATIONS RELEASED
The Rudd Government last week released updated draft regulations for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). The updated regulations include the second group of activities to be eligible for assistance under the emissions intensive, trade exposed (EITE) assistance program. The Government has also released draft regulations to deliver partial exemptions from Renewable Energy Target (RET) liability to all activities that would qualify for the EITE assistance under the CPRS. The Government is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the draft CPRS and RET regulations by Monday 11 January 2010. The draft regulations and commentary as well as the accompanying explanatory paper are available on the Department of Climate Change website at www.climatechange.gov.au.

ADDITIONAL REEF RESCUE FUNDING FOR SUGARCANE GROWERS
Sugarcane growers in the Wet Tropics region of the Great Barrier Reef catchment will receive $420,000 funding from the Australian Government for Reef Rescue Water Quality Grants and Partnerships. The funding, under Caring for our Country, will help more sugarcane growers to improve the quality of water flowing from their farms into the Great Barrier Reef. Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett and Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke, said the $200 million Reef Rescue program aimed to reduce the amount of nutrients, pesticides and sediments impacting on the Reef. "Reef Rescue-funded projects are helping farmers use new technology to continually improve land management practices in horticulture, grazing, dairy and the sugarcane industry," Mr Burke said. Sugarcane farmers have been pro-active in adopting new techniques to increase sustainability and profitability, delivering wins for both the Reef and the industry.

WORKPLACE RELATIONS MINISTERS COUNCIL
Last week’s meeting of the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) held in Melbourne saw Ministers finalise two major reforms – the harmonisation of model work health and safety laws and a national workplace relations system for the private sector. In an historic decision, Ministers endorsed model work health and safety provisions which now become the agreed model Act. In doing so, Ministers noted the views expressed by Ministers on their jurisdictions’ perspectives on the content of the model laws. Importantly, Western Australia has agreed to continue to aim for national harmonisation of work health and safety and continue to participate in Safe Work Australia. In noting the transitional arrangements for the implementation of the harmonised regime and the timetable for the development of the model work health and safety regulations, Ministers were pleased that there would be a four month public comment period for the model regulations commencing in late 2010.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT: FIRE ANTS ARE BREEDING
Fire ants are about to start breeding and people in affected areas of South East Queensland are asked to be on the lookout. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, Tim Mulherin, said residents should watch out for swarms of flying ants expected to be visible in the coming months and to report their findings to Biosecurity Queensland. Humid weather brought on by hot days and big storms are the trigger for fire ants to try to establish new colonies. For more information on what to look for, or the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

ALLOWANCES TO ASSIST BIG ELECTORATES
MPs in Queensland's five largest rural and remote electorates will receive boosted allowances from next year to help them better service their communities. Changes to salaries and allowances include the first pay rise for MPs since 2007 plus a boost to travel allowances for MPs in Dalrymple, Gregory, Cook, Mount Isa and Warrego. Changes coming into effect from 2010 include:
• a 3.1 per cent increase in base salary for all MPs - to $130,540 a year
• a two per cent CPI increase to MP allowances
• increases of between $8000 to $10,000 in flight allowances for the state's five largest electorates so their MPs can better service their communities. Total allowances for flights in those electorates will now range from $14,280 to $17,340
• increase in allowances for Opposition shadow spokespersons from $5887 to $9790.50 - the first increase since 1996.
The State Government has also approved the provision of another taxpayer funded vehicle for the Opposition.

MEMBERS NEWS

SMUT IMPACT SHOULD NOT BE UNDERSTATED
Peak sugarcane group, CANEGROWERS, says the ongoing cost and extent of the major disease, sugarcane smut, should not be underestimated nor its ongoing impact on profitability understated. The infestation across industry is likely to peak in 2010 and remain a major issue in 2011. CANEGROWERS CEO, Ian Ballantyne said there are heavy concentrations of sugarcane smut across all cane growing areas, and it is having a huge impact on those cane farms affected with the disease. “For example, I am aware of very badly affected farms in the Mackay and Ingham region, where major varieties had high susceptibility to the disease.” Smut has most recently been identified in Northern NSW, now confirming its presence in every cane growing district in Australia. After the first suspect whips were identified in Bundaberg in 2006, the industry surveyed all cane-growing districts and indentified the presence of this considerable constraint on productivity in most cane growing areas. “Breeding for smut resistance has been the top priority of the cane breeding program run by BSES. Good preparations with variety replacement means that smut’s impact on overall productivity has been substantially reduced due largely to joint industry and State Government commitment and an alert and responsive grower sector. The ongoing impact should not however be dismissed nor the disease announced as ‘cured’.”

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY FORUM NEEDED TO TACKLE NEED FOR INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION
Peak horticulture organisation Growcom last week welcomed the addition of food security to Shadow Agriculture Minister John Cobb’s portfolio and reiterated its calls for a national food security forum to be attended by representatives of both sides of government in order to put together a plan for increased food security. Chief Advocate Rachel Mackenzie said the organisation welcomed a statement by the Australian Food and Grocery Council supporting increased farm production among other measures to achieve food security. Ms Mackenzie said a national policy approach was needed because of the urgent need to adequately secure land, water, energy, infrastructure and labour needs to produce the food the nation and the world would require in the next 40 years, in the face of population growth, rapid urbanisation and climate change challenges.

OTHER NEWS

LEADERSHIP TIPS FOR YOUNG PRIMARY PRODUCERS
'Step forward and become leaders for your industries and communities' was the message delivered to young primary producers from Blackall to Toobeah at a forum in Goondiwindi recently. Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Chair Peter Blundell said agriculture had never been more important to Australia in terms of financial security, social health and well-being and global stability. "It is crucial that in this current climate, we have committed, passionate, young leaders within the industry, who are dedicated to the promotion of the necessity of a healthy and vibrant farm sector," Mr Blundell said. The Young Farmers Forum 2009 was supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under Australia's Farming Future. National Farmers' Federation (NFF) CEO Ben Fargher told the more than 80 delegates about some of the key leadership skills he had learnt during his career, including being told to ’go and get an education first‘ by his father when he wanted to return to the family farm, prior to becoming NFF CEO.

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