May 21, 2018
I was proud to speak in Parliament this month about how Labor’s proposed changes to Vegetation Management Laws will hurt primary producers.
And while I called on the Labor Government to hear the voices of the hundreds of farmers who descended on Parliament House to protest the changes, unfortunately this fell on deaf ears.
Common sense amendments which the LNP tried to pass were also quashed.
These unjust changes to the vegetation management laws will devastate Queensland farmers.
They will shut down the ability to open up any new agricultural land, killing off thousands of potential jobs and denying billions of dollars in export income for our state.
These laws tie up rural producers in reams of red tape that see these landholders charged thousands of dollars just to manage their own thickened vegetation.
I would really like to applaud all the primary producers right across Queensland and here in the Nanango Electorate who put so much time into fighting these changes.
From the producers who travelled to Brisbane for the rally, to those who held virtual rallies and took to social media to spread the word.
The effort has been enormous, and I want to let primary producers know that the party that I lead, the Liberal National Party, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our regional producers, our farmers and our landholders across this state.
The LNP will protect farmers’ rights to run sustainable, successful businesses and support their families and the next generation.
We will always respect and support the industry that is the economic backbone of this great state.
I must also mention Mr Alan Crawford, a Gordonbrook primary producer who I spoke about during the Parliamentary debate.
Alan sadly passed away on April 28.
He had fought against the Vegetation Laws for a long time and I wanted to highlight his plight and the toll it had taken on him and his family.
RIP Alan Crawford.
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Beef Week
I spent a few days at Beef Week this year, speaking with primary producers, school groups, stall holders and many other stakeholders in Queensland’s beef industry.
It was great to catch up with South Burnett locals who had made the trek to Rockhampton, including students, teachers and parents from Kingaroy State High School.
Great to have our local region represented by such a great group!
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Woolooga’s Rosella Festival
Rosellas and all the produce that can be made from this delicious fruit were the focus of the 3rd annual Big Rosella Festival held at the Woolooga property of Joe, Greg and CC Petersen on May 12.
Rosellas are a Queensland icon and it was fabulous to visit their farm where they have the most beautiful patch of 5000 rosella plants.
Photo: Celebrity Chefs were on hand to demonstrate the many ways to use rosellas in our cooking.
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Great Crowds At Local Shows
It is so much fun each year to be a part of the Nanango Show ‘can bar crew’!
The weather has been very kind to our recent local shows, with both Nanango and Kingaroy enjoying large crowds.
Well done to both Show Societies for all their hard work!
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English Should Not Be Downgraded
We want our kids to be the smartest in the nation, and as a mother of three teenage girls, I know reading and writing are two of the basic skills our kids need to get a job and succeed in life.
With the worst unemployment rate in Australia, Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor should be doing more to help our next generation of workers get a good job.
But revelations English will not be a mandatory inclusion for ATAR, the new university entrance ranking system, diminishes the importance of the subject.
It also sends the wrong message to our kids and our teachers.
We should be boosting literacy and numeracy standards, not reducing standards.
English should not be treated like a third-rate subject.
If it’s good enough for the other states, it should be good enough for Queensland kids.
Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to intervene and reverse this terrible decision.
Education is a major priority for me and my team because we know that an investment in education is an investment in the future of our children and grandchildren.
Labor are settling for second best, and we don’t think that’s good enough.
[Photos: Nanango Electorate Office]
