January 7, 2015
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation has called on all political parties to have a strong focus on agriculture during the State election campaign.
QFF CEO Dan Galligan warned that “it will be at the peril” for any party to take farming and agriculture for granted.
“The prosperity of the farm sector defines the local economy for many regional Queensland electorates that could decide who forms the next government,” Mr Galligan said.
“The farm sector is also a lynchpin for our current and future economic prosperity, worth $14.5 billion to the State economy including first-stage processing.
“We have seen the mining boom fade with lower coal prices, and the gas industry is transitioning to the production phase from the high-employment construction phase, against the backdrop of a low world oil price.
“A new State Government can look to agriculture as a steady economic performer with great potential for growth. But it can only do that with specific policies that enhance the productivity and profitability of existing farmers, while also strategically looking at new opportunities.
“We need all parties to spell out that vision early in the campaign, to give farmers the opportunity to decide who they want to run the State.”
