28 Aug 2020
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) is urging those vying for public office and the voting public to remember that making Queensland’s agricultural sector number one is not just good for farmers – it is good for everyone.
Ahead of the 2020 Queensland state election on 31 October, QFF has released a list of policy and regulatory amendments and opportunities as well as industry-led programs required for the next government to capitalise on the agriculture sector’s potential.
QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis said the agriculture sector was worth almost $17 billion to the Queensland economy and employed over 300,000 people throughout the food supply chain and must be respected, encouraged and supported to ensure this could continue.
“Making Queensland’s agricultural sector number one can only be achieved by addressing the challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities presented, which requires deliberate and strategic action,” Dr Davis said.
“QFF has identified five major policy areas to achieve this aim including making Queensland the place to invest; implementing smart regulation to realise opportunities; maintaining, building new and building back better; managing risk and protecting; and ensuring the future of our people and regional communities.”
“We need a government that will guarantee farmers fair production costs, create and foster an environment that promotes productivity and resilience, and ensure the building blocks and infrastructure that underpin the sector are in place.
“Our sector is the only one that can deliver food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity for relatively low risk – a compelling case regardless of politics.”
“In the next Parliament, the government must work alongside industry to achieve our vision for agriculture, or we risk the deterioration of our sector, rather than strengthening this critical economy support structure.”
Read QFF’s ‘Making Queensland agriculture #1’ election policy platform here: www.qff.org.au/queensland-election/.
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