The 2018 Queensland Budget is proof that Labor not only doesn’t understand, but doesn’t care about Queensland farmers and the rural and regional communities they support.
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington slammed Labor’s Brisbane-centric budget of taxes, debt and unemployment.
"Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Budget will hurt Queensland with increased debt and $2.2 billion in new taxes ripped from the pockets of Queenslanders and shoved in the Government’s coffers," Ms Frecklington said.
"Queensland’s debt bomb will increase to a massive $83 billion in the next four years as Treasurer Jackie Trad slaps more money on the taxpayer’s credit card.
"We have nothing to show for massive royalty hauls from the state’s resources sector because they are being tipped into the black hole of Labor’s debt."
Liberal National Party Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett said Labor’s budget had nothing new for agriculture.
"They only noteworthy addition for Queensland farmers is funding to increase regulation and red and green tape to suffocate our agricultural sector," Mr Perrett said.
"This budget isn’t about supporting Queensland farmers. It’s about protecting Labor politicians in seats in Southeast Queensland by making it harder for farmers to farm.
"Meanwhile, Labor has showered money on its greenie mates like the Australian Conservation Council but provided no funds to compensate farmers left reeling from their unfair vegetation management laws.
"It’s extremely disappointing to see Labor walk back on previous investments and successes made in delivering pest management such as wild dog fencing by halving the ongoing funding.
"These projects are critically important to the agricultural industry’s viability and productivity and must be properly funded."
Liberal National Party Shadow Natural Resources Minister Dale Last said that there was a gaping hole in Labor’s Budget for water infrastructure and dams.
"Water is essential to the development of regional Queensland yet this Budget doesn’t allocate the required funding to upgrade and build the dams that will sustain and grow regional Queensland," Mr Last said.
"While Labor has finally committed to matching the Federal Government’s $176 million for Rookwood Weir – they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table.
"In fact, when you look at the fine print, we see that the Palaszczuk Government continues to play politics with the Rookwood Weir by bickering over the formalities and operational cost split with the Federal Government.
"Unlike Labor, the LNP has a plan for building dams in Queensland. We would allocate funding to get region building dams shovel ready like Nullinga Dam on the Atherton Tablelands, Urannah Dam north-west of Mackay as well as raising the Burdekin Falls Dam.
"These projects would ensure residential supplies, provide water for agriculture and industry as well as increasing existing water storage capacity."
