13 July 2016
With the federal election result now clear it is time to get back to the very important business of governing. After a long campaign, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) is looking forward to working with the federal government to further the national interests and priorities of our industry members.
The QFF congratulates the re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government, and thanks both major parties for a campaign of commitments that put forward many policies and ideas that stood to benefit and support Queensland’s agriculture sector and regional communities.
QFF looks forward to working constructively with the government, opposition and other minor parties to ensure the delivery of those Coalition election commitments that will benefit our sector and the communities dependent on it. Improved regional transport and communications infrastructure; on-going support for environmentally sustainable farming practices; investment in agricultural research and development (R&D); and continuing progress on market access are some of the core policy areas that will enhance Queensland’s growing agriculture sector.
The downturn of the resources sector has seen a renewed interest at all levels of government to invest and further develop agriculture across Australia. As the long term predominant employer and contributor to regional Queensland, our primary industries are currently worth $17.3 billion a year. They continue to grow as a percentage of the state’s economy, and with the right policy settings and investment, have the potential to double in value by 2050.
An important policy platform that will help realise this growth and underpin jobs in regional areas is the Coalition’s strategy to develop northern Australia. Requiring investment in water and land infrastructure as well as market development to open up further export opportunities, federal and state governments must work together to get this right. QFF will be strongly advocating for policies and legislative frameworks at both levels of government that complement each other.
Strategic and complementary investment in the Reef is also important to ensure the greatest outcomes from taxpayer and other sources of investment can be achieved for all stakeholders. QFF continues to work with its industry members through Best Management Programs (BMPs) and by managing the Reef Trust programs that enables a collaborative approach to delivering a reduced impact on the environment while maintaining an efficient and profitable agriculture sector.
The structure and composition of the agricultural workforce must also be recognized. QFF and its members have been very vocal in this space and the ‘Backpacker Tax’ issue needs to be resolved as a priority to provide labour certainty for the sector.
Regional Queensland electorates were pushed into the limelight due to their marginal electoral outcomes. Of most interest is the sizable ‘other’ vote away from the major parties in many of these electorates highlighting regional feelings of disenfranchisement by the established parties.
The government should not ignore this voter response and must start to address perceived failures in communicating and listening to the concerns of voters in regional and rural Queensland communities. QFF considers a greater focus on employment initiatives and regional development opportunities that will benefit the agriculture sector will go a long way towards addressing some of these concerns. QFF will continue to work constructively with the government in representing our members’ interests to ensure agriculture remains a key pillar of the government’s plan for regional Queensland.
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