{"id":288490,"date":"2020-12-02T17:49:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T07:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=288490"},"modified":"2020-12-02T17:52:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T07:52:24","slug":"state-budget-disappointing-mp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/12\/02\/state-budget-disappointing-mp\/","title":{"rendered":"State Budget Disappointing: MP"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says Mundubbera-Durong Road has been overlooked in this week’s State Budget\u00a0 (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 2, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday’s State Budget has not delivered on many important projects for the South Burnett, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said it was disappointing that long-awaited safety improvements for major connecting roads, along with water infrastructure have been overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, the key projects our community has been calling for have not been funded in this delayed State Budget,\u201d Mrs Frecklington said.<\/p>\n

\u201cKey roads like the Mundubbera-Durong Road, Kilkivan-Tansey Road and Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road have once again been overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater infrastructure like the Barlil Weir has also not been considered.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the projects listed in the Budget for the South Burnett have been previously announced by Labor, or have even been finished. They are not new projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased however that my lobbying on behalf of Tanduringie State School has been successful with a small amount of funding listed for planning works for a new bridge on Tanduringie Creek where a near tragedy occurred with the school bus a few months ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will also be seeking further information about funding announced for the D\u2019Aguilar Highway between Yarraman and Kingaroy. Details have not been provided on the scope of works, and I will seek these details on behalf of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is so much opportunity right here, but it needs backing with better roads, better health services, water security and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business. <\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll continue to push for these issues on behalf of our community.”<\/p>\n

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QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis (Photo: Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Queensland Farmers\u2019 Federation said it was underwhelmed by the Budget, too, as there were no surprises, either positive or negative.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CEO Dr Georgina Davis said the Budget was a missed opportunity to address some critical competitiveness and productivity issues, and growth opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cCredit to the government for fully delivering on its election commitments, including reducing irrigation water charges for the State\u2019s farmers, electricity bill relief for small businesses, funding for agricultural skills and training facilities, and support for the Reef Credits initiative,\u201d Dr Davis said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government should also be commended for listening to QFF and providing price relief for critical input costs, funding for resilience and risk reduction, dam safety improvement projects and biosecurity.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, more information is needed to address the uncertainties around implementing some of these significant initiatives.<\/p>\n

“Some obvious and overdue funding measures were missing in the Budget – such as abolishing stamp duty on agricultural insurance, capital investment for strategic water infrastructure projects and support for agritourism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Davis said the government needed to demonstrate a more strategic intent towards agriculture and long-term, targeted stimulus-type investment if the sector was to take the next step forward.<\/p>\n

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AgForce CEO Mike Guerin (Photo: AgForce)<\/figcaption><\/figure> AgForce Qld noted that Treasurer Cameron Dick acknowledged agriculture during his Budget speech.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CEO Michael Guerin said AgForce was pleased to see the Treasurer recognise the essential role agriculture plays in protecting the economy.<\/p>\n

Mr Guerin said the industry also welcomed the State Government\u2019s commitments, including $81.61 million to be allocated over three years from 2021-22 to reduce irrigation scheme water charges for the State\u2019s farmers, and further dam and regional town water security investment.<\/p>\n

However, he said that while the government had reaffirmed its commitment to drought reform, it was light on the details about what that reform looked like, while at the same time allocating less funding to the current situation many producers find themselves in.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo-thirds of Queensland is still drought declared and La Nina is yet to deliver any rain,\u201d Mr Guerin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet the assumption within the Budget seems to be that the rains will come and solve the expenditure problem for the government without them having to provide any further funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgForce will therefore be doing everything it can to work closely with government to guarantee continuing steps and investment within drought reform, particularly for the 2021-22 Budget, to ensure ongoing assistance applies across affected sectors, is effective, and increases resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Guerin said AgForce would also be seeking a clearer funding pathway for the previously announced \u201cInland Bruce Highway\u201d which, if fully funded, would make freight movements safer and much more efficient.<\/p>\n

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