Queensland Treasurer, the Honourable David Janetzki MP handed down his first state budget yesterday.
The Delivering for Queensland budget aligns closely with the policy priorities that the Government campaigned on during last year’s state government election, including healthcare, community safety, infrastructure and housing.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) received increased funding, with an allocation of $817.2 million, $58.3m of which was new funding.
A key budget highlight for agriculture was the $60.9 million over five years for Queensland’s biosecurity capability, including 100 additional frontline officers at biosecurity hotspots, as well as $24 million over two years to deliver Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce aerial suppression activities.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation CEO Jo Sheppard said that while the budget’s focus on biosecurity is absolutely welcomed, the successful development of a shared delivery model between government and industry will be instrumental in creating on-ground effectiveness from the increased investment.
“With biosecurity risks expected to quadruple in the coming years, it is essential that Queensland’s frontline biosecurity capability is strengthened today to anticipate, identify and respond to those threats,” Jo Sheppard said.
“We encourage the Queensland Government to support the funding announcement by partnering with Queensland’s agricultural peak bodies to co-deliver on biosecurity, to ensure this essential capability is strongly embedded within industry across the state.”
A continuation of $51.9 million over four years to support the Farm Business Resilience Program, Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program and Drought Preparedness Grants has also been welcomed by industry.
“Queensland is Australia’s most disaster impacted state, and ongoing support for on-farm risk management, preparedness, recovery and resilience is incredibly important,” Jo Sheppard said.
QFF is heartened by the “More Rangers, Better Neighbours” initiative to begin improving the management of national parks and protected areas and funding of 40 specialist fire rangers in recognition of the urgent need for these landscapes to be better managed.
Jo Sheppard said QFF is keen to understand the details relating to the $30 million allocation for the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund aimed at promoting new on-farm technologies to future-proof agriculture.
“Industry has been working hard to support farmers make informed decisions when it comes to tech adoption, for example the work QFVG have done through the ‘Future Fields’ initiative and eastAUSmilk’s ‘Dairy Farmers Technology Uptake Program’, Jo Sheppard said.
“It is so important that we do not lose momentum on the existing, valuable programs that are already underway.”
The budget also included $6.7 million as part of the $12.5 million over three years to support local cane growers in the Mossman Community following the closure of the Mossman Mill and a commitment to the development of a Far North Queensland Cane Expansion Plan in conjunction with Canegrowers, Queensland’s peak body for sugarcane farmers.
Jo Sheppard said that whilst industry continues to work through some of the details that underpin yesterday’s announcements, QFF are acutely aware that budget allocations are one part of the ledger, and that the way in which government partners with the agriculture sector to deliver on these commitments is equally important.
“QFF and our peak body members look forward to the opportunity to work with the Crisafulli Government in thinking differently so that outcomes on the ground can be leveraged and enhanced to the benefit of the industries and communities that we represent, and the future generations we carry a duty of care to,” Jo Sheppard said.
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Media contact:
Jak Kirwin, Senior Media and Communications Officer, QFF
E: comms@qff.org.au
M: 0488 305 106