Queensland's primary production sectors have shown remarkable resilience in the face of severe drought and little in the way of genuine support from Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor, the LNP said today.
Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Dale Last said Queensland primary producers and processors generated goods worth a remarkable $19.9 billion in 2016/17, with livestock ($6.15bn), horticulture ($4.16bn) and sugar and cotton ($2.45bn).
"This is a stand-out performance in the face of severe drought and with virtually no support from this lazy, do-nothing Labor government," Mr Last said.
Mr Last warned farmers they faced an uphill battle if Annastacia Palaszczuk was re-elected given she was hellbent on scrapping the LNP's common sense vegetation management laws which allowed farmers and landholders to manage their farms while protecting sensitive, high-conservation value flora.
"Labor's done nothing to address skyrocketing electricity and water charges for farmers and processors, nothing to progress expansion of sustainable timber and forest industries, but it has seen fit to dramatically restrict Category H firearm licence renewals and applications,” he said.
Mr Last said Queensland's 4,000 cane farmers - the backbone of an export industry worth $2.1 billion in 2016/17 - had been sold down the river by Labor which shamefully sided with foreign-owned, multi-national milling companies and attempted to deny farmers the option to sell through industry-owned QSL.
"Labor's treatment of cane farmers has been disgraceful," he said.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s attempt to claim credit for primary production growth is particularly distasteful given its scrapping of the dedicated department in the Beattie-Bligh years and the slashing of staff numbers under current Minister Bill Byrne.”
Mr Last said the Labor Minister was caught out during Budget estimates hearings on funding and staff numbers when his own budget documents proved he'd cut funding by more than $14 million this year and staff by 79 FTEs when compared to the department under the LNP government.
“Is it any wonder key stakeholder groups AgForce and Queensland Farmers' Federation called his efforts ‘underwhelming’ and ‘lacking any vision’?” he said.
“Only the LNP has a comprehensive plan to create jobs across Queensland, better manage our finances and build the roads, bridges and dams we need.”
