8 Dec 2025
QFVG has appointed Scott Kompo-Harms as its new CEO, starting 12 January 2026. With extensive experience across government and agricultural advocacy, Scott brings strong policy and industry insights to the role. Read more here.
QFF and Biosecurity Queensland are encouraging all businesses to know the potential impacts of biosecurity events through the Biosecurity in the Boardroom campaign. The campaign has seen strong support from sectors outside of agriculture, highlighting the need to manage biosecurity proactively to avoid operational, financial and reputational risk. Read more here.
The National Farmers’ Federation has achieved a major win, with the Federal Government agreeing to extend Right to Repair laws to agricultural machinery. The reform will give farmers more choice over who repairs their equipment, reducing downtime, cutting costs and boosting productivity. Read more here.
QFF recently hosted a workshop in the Scenic Rim to share the findings from the Water Use Efficiency Trial (WUET), an 11-month program helping producers across South East Queensland better understand how water use, irrigation timing and on-farm energy interact. Read more here.
The Queensland Government has announced a $7.2 million Future Cotton partnership with the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, supporting grower-focused R&D across Goondiwindi, Emerald, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. Read more here.
Kylie Wilson, Partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers, has written a cautionary article in the Queensland Country Life about the inclusion of specific gifts in Wills. Read more here. Sparke Helmore is pleased to offer grower members of QFF’s peak body members a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation before giving Sparke Helmore formal instructions. To access this offer, email qfarmers@qff.org.au
Greenlife Industry Queensland has announced a major new partnership with the Greenscapes Show to deliver Greenscapes + Green Expo 2026 — a unified national event for Australia’s greenlife, landscaping and urban-greening sectors. Read more here.
Amendments to the EPBC Act have left many farmers unsure about their obligations. To help clarify the changes, the Federal Government has launched a dedicated hotline (1800 920 528), available 9am–5pm Monday–Friday. Further information is also available via the Department’s update on agricultural action exemptions. Read more here.
An independent Oxford Economics report projects that Telstra’s recently launched Aura Network could add $29 billion to Australia’s GDP by the end of the 2040 financial year and enable 84,000 extra jobs across the economy, with around $5 billion of the predicted GDP uplift flowing directly to regional Australia. Read more here.
QFF CEO Jo Sheppard joined the Queensland Country Hour for its 80th anniversary, reflecting on the program’s vital role in rural communities and highlighting key outcomes for QFF and our peak body members in 2025, and QFF’s vision for the year ahead. Listen to the full interview here.