Weekly Bulletin

The Weekly Bulletin is now published each Monday.

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22 Feb 2010 WEEKLY BULLETIN February 22, 2010

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS ON PROTECTING AG LAND A GOOD FIRST STEP
The Queensland Government has recently released a discussion paper on development of a Strategic cropping land Policy and planning framework. The paper outlines some proposals that if implemented could deliver on many of the issues that QFF and many other farming organisations and regional producer groups have been discussing with the Government for some years. Although still early days, the Government has got off on the right foot on this issue. The paper suggests that a planning approach should be used to strike a balance between development that supports individual and business rights and regional growth, but also serves to protect our limited and non-renewable food production capabilities.

The key elements for a successful model are all at least being proposed. They include improving our mapping and definition of strategic cropping land, putting in place amendments to planning and mining legislation and backing it all up with guidelines for assessment to be used when development applications are made.

There is a huge amount of work to be done to pull these proposals together. A number of constraints around the extent to which it will take affect still exist and they need to be understood if we are to accept what can be achieved. The package suggests it will only protect about 2.2 per cent of the State’s land, which is the country that is likely to be determined to be strategic cropping land. This will leave a lot of primary producers disappointed. Further, the overriding caveat will be that development will still occur if it is overwhelmingly in the public interest. That means this is not going to lock up and protect country and indeed the reality is that mining will still occur on agricultural land and the work to ensure both industries can prosper will continue.

If delivered the proposed new framework should provide increased clarity for agricultural, mining and urban sectors regarding the government's expectations for strategic cropping land and how this land should be protected from adverse impact. The Government has called for submissions on their proposals by March 12 and QFF urges everyone concerned with this issue to play close attention to the debate that unfolds. The discussion paper is available here or by contacting QFF at www.qff.org.au.

STRATEGIC CROPPING LAND PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS
Public information sessions explaining the policy are being held at major centres state-wide. Please RSVP for each information session by phoning 07 3227 7170.

Location Date Venue Time
Rockhampton
February 23 Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
25 Yeppoon Road, Parkhurst 9am-12pm

Mackay
February 24 Windmill Motel and Reception Centre 
5 Highway Plaza, Mt Pleasant 9am-12pm

Townsville
February 25 Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
180-202 River Boulevard, Oonoonba 9am-12pm

Cairns
February 26 Rydges Plaza Cairns Hotel
Cnr of Grafton and Spence Streets 9am-12pm

Ipswich
March 1 Ipswich Civic Hall (Lockyer Room)
Cnr Limestone & Nicholas Streets 9am-12pm

Toowoomba
March 1 Toowoomba City Hall (Mayes Room)
541 Ruthven Street 3pm-6pm

Dalby
March 2 Dalby RSL
69 Drayton Street 9am-12pm

Roma
March 3 Agforce Boardroom,
42b Wyndham Street 9am-12pm

Emerald

March 4 Maraboon Tavern (Glenlaton Room),
5 Esmond Street 9am-12pm

Nambour
March 5 Maroochy Research Station –
Conference Facility A – Block,
47 Mayers Road 9am-12pm

LAND VALUATION BILL NEEDS REVIEW
QFF has written to Minister Robertson seeking delay of passage of the Valuation of Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 because of uncertainties it creates for farmers and the whole community. QFF has been briefed by the Property Council of Australia and others and it is clear that the Bill as read in Parliament on February 11 will not achieve a sound and consistent methodology for land valuations in Queensland. QFF is also asking the Minister to release the report of the Review and Reference panel that was created after the 2008 attempt to amend the Valuation of Land Act 1944. While it is clear that changes are needed (court rulings have overturned valuations) QFF sees broad and informed consultation as a necessary process that has been lacking in the government’s approach to this issue.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH MODEL UNDER SCRUTINY
Minister Burke finally released on February 15 the much anticipated terms of reference for the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Australian Government Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). The Productivity Commission has been asked to examine the economic and policy rationale for public funding of the RDCs and to assess how best value may be gained from research and development spending, which in 2008-09 amounted to about $460 million, $207 million of which was from taxpayers. The Inquiry is scheduled to run twelve months and public hearings and a draft report will be available soon. Details of the Inquiry’s terms of reference are available here.

EXPERINCE PAYS
QFF recently participated in a half day workshop reviewing the Queensland government’s approach to the ageing population. Since 2006 the government has funded the Queensland Experience Pays Awareness Strategy (EPAS) under the Queensland Skills Plan, but the strategy became less a priority as employment pressures eased last year. QFF sees the skills shortage re-emerging and the older workforce is likely to be the first available to provide experienced workers for an expanding farm and agribusiness sector in the immediate future. Anyone requiring information about workforce development issues should contact QFF.

DROUGHT REFORM NEEDS A STATE TO SIGN UP
Queensland farmers are no doubt pleased that the NFF has begun publicly pressuring the federal government to implement a new approach to drought management. It is now a year since the Productivity Commission handed the government the final report on Government Drought Support which included sixteen recommendations for reform of drought programs. While QFF fully supports the NFF’s seven principles for new drought programs, we see a critical ingredient is a state government prepared to sign the inter-government agreement recommended by the Productivity Commission. The whole idea behind drought policy reform is to provide farmers with certainty that when climate extremes put them in financial stress they can proceed to access income support without the bureaucratic step of waiting for officials to decide on “line on maps”. QFF acknowledges that drought reform is difficult, but the opportunity for change has never been better and we urge Ministers Mulherin and Burke to seize the initiative and make Queensland the pilot for implementing proactive drought preparedness programs.

MEMBER NEWS

INCREASED POPULATION - NATIONAL FOOD POLICY SHOULD BE PART OF THE MIX
Growcom CEO Alex Livingstone has said that the Government’s response to problems outlined in the recent National Food Policy report had ignored a key requirement - that a larger population will need to be fed. “There is no national plan in place to guarantee that arable land with suitable water and climatic requirements and adequate infrastructure will be available in the future to guarantee our food supply," Mr Livingstone said. The Government’s determination to put in place measures to lift productivity in order to grow the economy was admirable but ignored a key consideration of investing in infrastructure that would ensure the population had access to economical, fresh and healthy food supplies.
Mr Livingstone said it was pleasing to see that the Government planned to use a productivity improvement agenda to address the fiscal pressures of an ageing population, however, increased taxation and budget cuts also loomed as a counter balance on the agenda.
He urged the Government to refrain from increasing the tax burden on productive sectors such as horticulture which was an important source of employment and flow-on economic benefits in regional Australia.

ENSURING A SAFE COTTON HARVEST IN 2010
With cotton picking due to start in the next few weeks in Central Queensland, Cotton Australia has recently developed a guide to remind growers about the risks and responsibilities associated with this potentially hazardous time of year. The latest Background Briefing entitled “Safe Picking and Transport” includes information on:
• Cotton Australia’s work with the NSW RTA to simplify the road transport rules and exemption notices for special purpose module transport vehicles and trailers
• Staff and/or contractor induction and communication
• Provision of protective equipment
• Working Around Power Lines
• Operating Machinery
• Operating cotton pickers
• Moving picking machinery
• Conditions Where Accidents are More Likely
• First Aid and Emergency Response Plans

OTHER NEWS

AGRI-FOOD SKILLS RURAL AND RELATED SECTORS TRAINING FUND
AgriFood Skills Australia is seeking Expressions of Interest for funding under the AgriFood Skills Australia / Rural Training Council of Australia Rural and Related Industry Sectors Training Fund. The objective of the Fund is to support targeted project activities that will improve workforce skills development, combat skills shortages and address the need for higher level technical skills within the industry. The rural and related areas covered by the Fund include amenity horticulture, conservation and land management, and animal care and management. The Fund is looking for projects that will influence and expand the development of sustainable vocational education training solutions to equip workers with higher technical skills. Total project funding is limited ($600,000 total), and the funding process is expected to be highly competitive. Ideally, AgriFood is seeking Expressions of Interest for projects to the value of approximately $100,000 to $150,000. For more information, click here.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE?
The Australian Farm Institute is giving you the opportunity to tell the world what you think Australia’s agriculture policies should look like, to be in the running to win $500 and a one-year membership to the Australian Farm Institute. Entrants in the competition are required to write a short essay titled ‘If I were the Australian Minister for Agriculture…’ detailing your goals for the future of Australian agriculture, and what measures or programs you would implement to achieve them. Participants in the competition must be full-time farmers, tertiary students or agribusiness participants. Entries close at 5pm on Friday March 26, 2010. For more information, visit www.farminstitute.org.au.

2010 HEALTHY WATERWAYS AWARDS NOW OPEN
The 2010 Healthy Waterways Awards applications are now open, providing the chance to share in more than $20,000. Now in its 10th year, the Awards provide recognition and reward to outstanding waterway health projects in South East Queensland. To enter, download the electronic entry form from the Healthy Waterways website, and submit it by 5pm, Monday April 12, 2010.

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