The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s anti-regions, anti-farmer and anti-jobs agenda has driven many in the agriculture industry to revolt, LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett said today.
Mr Perrett said the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s unfair reef laws have been met with huge backlash from industry groups including CANEGROWERS, AgForce, Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC), Growcom and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF).
Mr Perrett said the industry groups were sending a clear message to the Palaszczuk Labor Government – the Reef Laws are unfair on farmers.
“CANEGROWERS represents more than 4,000 farming businesses up and down the coast and they’ve taken the extraordinary step of running TV ads* against the unfair reef laws,” Mr Perrett said.
“The state’s cattle and grazing industry group, AgForce, is deleting their best management practice data to ensure their members are protected from the incoming Labor Government laws**.
“ABGC have described the incoming laws as ‘devastating’*** while Growcom has questioned farmers’ ability to continue to absorb the costs of environmental regulation****.
“Farmers have been blindsided by these regulations and deserve to be listened to.
“It’s completely unacceptable that Labor is going to ram these reef regulations through without listening to the very people these laws will impact.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is out of touch and regional Queensland is no priority for her Labor Government.
“The Labor Government continues to treat regional Queenslanders like second class citizens.
“Only the LNP will ensure farmers always get a fairer reef regulations deal, with a proper consultation process that actually listens and considers the impact on farmers and their communities.”
Background:
* CANEGROWERS TV ads: http://www.canegrowers.com.au/page/media/media-releases/2019/cane-growers-hit-airwaves-in-reef-bill-campaign
** AgForce statement: https://agforceqld.org.au/index.php?tgtPage=news&id=view,810
*** Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC) statements: https://abgc.org.au/2019/07/15/banana-growers-urge-queensland-government-to-reconsider-regulation/
**** Growcom statements: https://www.growcom.com.au/more-carrots-required-for-environmental-outcomes/
