Frecklington keeping an eye on ag

Though she is openly "humbled" to be offered the position, she said she was not about to wave a feminist flag in celebration - her excitement is purely down to agriculture being "one of the most important industries."

When asked about the significance of the appointment, the Member for Nanango politely shrugs it off as being merely an added detail.

"I think yes, I can provide a unique viewpoint that may not have been utilised before, however I think there are many different perspectives that must be taken into account [with this position]," said Ms Frecklington.

"It's more about the industry and ensuring whoever is representing the industry has a good one.

"For my electorate of Nanango it is the most important industry and the biggest economic driver so I'm really pleased to have the position to hold the government to account."

Growing up on a beef cattle property at Guluguba and spending more than 10 years managing broadacre cropping properties with her husband Jason before moving to Kingaroy, Mrs Frecklington said she had always had a passion for agriculture.

"I've always, in any of my positions, had agriculture as a backbone of my platform."

The former premier's assistant minister has hit the ground running since her appointment last Friday, already meeting key industry bodies including AgForce and the Queensland Farmers Federation.

Mrs Frecklington said she was also keen to "get out and about" across the state as much as she could over the coming weeks.

"There are two diverse situations we have right now in Queensland and it is such a big state, but it should be seen first-hand," she said.

"For example, we've got the ruined mungbean crops in the north Burnett from ex-tropical cyclone Marcia.

"And then we've got still around 80 percent of our state in drought still."

Mrs Frecklington is scheduled to touch down in Longreach this week and has plans to visit the Burnett and north Queensland soon too.

When asked if she thought Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne could manage the agriculture and fisheries portfolio alongside the sports and racing brief, she said "it will be a very delicate balance".