16 Nov 2016
Following the Queensland Farmers’ Federation’s (QFF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this week, I reflected on the value of having a peak advocacy group capable of bringing together many of the agricultural industries across our state.
With peak groups representing food, fibre and foliage production all present, it was a great opportunity to share ideas, discuss issues, determine positions and find solutions for a number of the common challenges faced by QFF members. The cross-pollination that occurs when you get business-minded farmers from the sugarcane, cotton, horticulture, dairy, chicken meat, pork, eggs, nursery and flower industries together is immense.
In general business, Board appointments reaffirmed the continued involvement of our major industry members. Les Williams, Growcom; Allan Dingle, CANEGROWERS; and John Bunker representing Nursery Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) were all re-nominated and accepted. The terms for Vice-President Brian Tessmann, Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) and myself as a Cotton Australia member were ongoing.
A networking function was held after the AGM, providing an opportunity for our members to engage with the Water and Energy Minister, the Hon. Mark Bailey MP and the newly reinstalled Agriculture Minister, the Hon. Bill Byrne MP. Both ministers were accompanied by key staff, with ministerial staff from the Hon. Anthony Lynham’s office also present. A number of senior government executives from the Departments of Energy and Water Supply, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Natural Resources and Mines also attended. I thank them all for coming along and being part of mutually beneficial discussions.
As we look to the future with much optimism for our sector, the AGM provided a timely reminder of the value of uniting the diverse industries that make up intensive agriculture in Queensland. QFF provides powerful and effective representation on important sectoral issues to direct and shape the right policy settings for member industries to realise their potential.
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