Agriculture.
Doing what matters for Queensland’s farmers and fishers.
The Miles Government has ensured that our farmers are able to be productive and profitable, rebuilding biosecurity services to provide vital support to landholders in fighting threats of invasive plant and animal pests.
The Premier’s first budget backs a record $715 million supporting state’s farmers and fishers.
Queensland exports $12.5 billion worth of agriculture and food products to more than 130 countries.
That is why we have:
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appointed a Queensland Food Farmers Commissioner to provide support for a fair go for farmers in dealing with supermarkets and their suppliers.
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supported our agribusiness industry to grow, enabling 100 agribusiness projects creating over 3000 new direct and indirect jobs, through our Rural Economic Development Grants.
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provided $8 million in industry-backed training, partnering with AgForce and Queensland Farmers’ Federation, for agribusiness skills of the future workforce.
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Invested $55.7 million to boost biosecurity
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supported Queensland Feral Pest Initiative through $29.2 million to assist with cluster fencing and other controls against invasive plants and animals
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established the Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce with $37.1 million supporting councils along the border and the coast to upskill their workers to manage the threat.
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funded a joint $600 million four-year plan with federal government to fight fire ants, with backing for a fire ant army of 150 frontline positions to combat the invasive pest.
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provided grants supporting our almost one million recreational fishers
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Only a re-elected Miles Labor Government will ensure stability for our farmers and continue to work with them on the issues that matter to them.
Our Record.
Only the Miles Labor Government acted decisively in the interests of farmers, industry, community and the environment to ban carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin.
Only the Miles Labor Government has developed the best carbon and natural capital investment climate in Australia. We know that many farmers want to manage their land for both agricultural outcomes and for environmental benefit.
The Miles Labor Government’s Land Restoration Fund has been rated the best carbon scheme in Australia.
A re-elected Miles Labor Government will deliver a nation-leading $139.5 million investment in our Bigger Nature Fund, which supports Queenslanders to develop income from their land by conserving trees and biodiversity.
The Miles Labor Government has also closely engaged with farmers and landholders on how to make the renewables rollout better. We are committed to ensuring that there is genuine and ongoing community engagement in the roll-out of wind renewables.
This is all at risk under the LNP.
When the LNP was last in Government it cut 600 staff from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – including a cut to 28% to fisheries staff and 26% cut to biosecurity staff. The LNP also closed the Biosecurity labs in Townsville and Toowoomba.
The last LNP budget provided $300 million less support to farmers and fishers than the Miles Labor Government – we have provided a 75% increase in funding compared to the LNP.
And given the chance the LNP will cut again – they already have billions of dollars of unfunded promises, and the only way to pay for them is to cut, sack and sell.