October 15, 2015
Shadow Agriculture Minister Deb Frecklington has reminded city-based MPs that the drought is still raging across 80 per cent of Queensland.
The Member for Nanango said she had taken the opportunity to speak to Parliament on the issue of drought twice this week to highlight the continued struggles of primary producers, particularly those in the hardest hit regions in western Queensland.
“This is a human catastrophe. There has been no drought-breaking rain over the winter and we are now heading into another long, hot, dry summer,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The vast outback is almost devoid of stock at a time when prices are actually at a decent level and the loss of revenue to these areas is mounting up to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“I wanted to remind everyone in Parliament, particularly those from the city, that there is still so much desperation and pain occurring out west in regards to the drought.
“This drought has now grown to be considered amongst the worst of the historic Queensland droughts and we cannot ignore the plight of these primary producers.”
Mrs Frecklington marked International Day of Rural Women to recognise the invaluable role the rural women of Queensland were playing socially and economically during the drought.
“It is an honour to work on behalf of all our primary producers, but on the International Day of Rural Women, I wanted to focus on the contribution of women to the agricultural sector,” she said.
“The women in our farming families deserve our attention because they are often the ones stoically supporting their husbands while trying to keep the family unit together and functional through such tough times.
“I was honoured to share the very personal stories of three women from Aramac who told it how it was.
“Queensland’s rural women are truly courageous, resilient and caring and deserved our support in the House today. It was extremely pleasing that the Motion was carried and International Rural Women’s Day will now be formally recognized by Queensland Parliament.”
