28 May 2026
The last few months have been challenging for Queensland farmers and regional communities, still trying to come to terms with nebulous environmental reforms and now grappling with fuel, fertiliser and plastics shortages and subsequent price volatility. Adding to these challenging global factors are the impacts of decisions made in Canberra which have only further disheartened primary producers.
QFF was incredibly disappointed by the Federal Government’s decision to cut funding from the Inland Rail project as part of a Federal Budget that also saw cuts to the Regional Tech Hub and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Another missed opportunity in this budget was a failure to explicitly address mounting food security concerns – including cost concerns facing producers that are unfortunately going to work their way through supply chains to consumers.
This was a chance for the Federal Government to take proactive and measured steps to support Queensland farmers in this unprecedented operating environment – including by providing targeted support for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) under existing loan programs.
QFF, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Business Chamber Queensland have stressed that this support is critical, not just for farming enterprises, more than 90 percent of which are SMEs, but for entire regional supply chains where businesses are contending with double digit price rises.
This string of disappointments has only continued with the Federal Government’s rejection of a restocking allowance to support primary producers recovering from the North West Queensland floods.
Last week QFF joined the Local Government Association of Queensland, AgForce Queensland and the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils in calling on the Prime Minister to urgently reconsider this decision.
While this was always going to be a difficult Federal Budget, and QFF acknowledges the recognition of the unique nature of farm businesses in trust reforms but is concerned by the potential implications of changes to capital gains tax and the application of outdated small business thresholds and the negative impacts now expected on succession planning.
These reforms along with the shortsighted nature of decisions such as the scrapping of Inland Rail and a failure to support the resiliency of Australian food and fibre supply has left regional Queensland feeling forgotten by the Federal Government and wondering what the future of food security is going to be.