May 26, 2016
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has challenged recent comments from Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson which reported a bright outlook for Queensland farmers.
Mrs Frecklington said that while the Minister had focused on positive results for commodity prices, she had ignored major issues which were stifling primary producers and their ability to effectively run their businesses.
“You’ve only got to look at the disastrous Vegetation Management Law amendments which Labor are trying to inflict on landowners to see that the Minister for Agriculture is blatantly ignoring major issues which will have a severe impact on the ag sector,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“And then you have the tick line regulations which will impact the daily operations of so many graziers in the South Burnett.
“We waited so long for any action from the Labor Government on this issue, and then when they did act, they didn’t even want to consult with farmers.
“Now we’re still waiting to see the draft regulations and tick line maps, and there’s just a few weeks until they are supposed to be in place.
“And there’s more – the changes to grazing leases over National Parks which will force graziers off their leasehold land, and of course. the plans to get rid of Queensland’s Bovine Johne’s Disease ‘Protected Status’, leaving our State open to the spread of this disease in our stock.
“Overall, I think the Minister is being disingenuous when she states the future is bright for our primary producers, when on the other hand, her government is doing all it can to make life as hard as possible for our farmers.”
- Related article: Farming Outlook Bright, Says Minister
