Last week AgForce stood beside our State Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett at the Far North Queensland Field Days as he announced some of the most fundamental reform our industry has seen in many years.
The Crisifulli Government has only held office for seven months but the reforms that are already being implemented, as evidenced last week, must be strongly acknowledged.
Industry, through AgForce and others sought and got some commitments from the LNP ahead of last year’s state election.
That they are actually ahead of schedule and taking on some of these important issues so early needs to be called out as worthy of praise.
The announcement about broader eligibility for support around natural disasters was no easy piece of work for our new State Government.
It involved negotiations with the Federal Government to gain support for the reforms.
And all of this they accomplished in seven short months.
It’s probably one of our biggest wins because it means genuine primary producers who were not previously eligible for grants and support in times of disasters are now eligible for it.
Now all primary producers – even those with some off-farm income such as contract mustering or cane harvesting – are eligible for disaster relief.
This has taken years of advocacy, so that people who do some work off farm for the economics of it can now get support and grants in times of need.
On the evidence to date – this government `gets’ agriculture.
What a great opportunity that enables industry and regional Queensland to work together with government on the fundamental policy reform that we know will unlock so much potential across Queensland and allow the next generation to invest with confidence.
Underpinning it all of course is the newly released draft roadmap that the Government has put together with industry that sets some bold goals.
It provides an empowering vision of how much more Agriculture could contribute across economic, social and environmental perspectives over the years to come.
Beneath this roadmap will be a series of five-year Action Plans and this is where we lay out the detail for the next period – in partnership with Government.
Most critically, this roadmap will be endorsed by the Crisifulli Cabinet meaning all departments of Government can align on the plan for the most prospective industry in Queensland – Agriculture.
So, from AgForce – we thank you.
We and all of industry are inspired by the State Government’s early momentum and welcome this genuine partnership developing across so many areas of policy reform and regional investment.
