Ag pays price of Newman's failure to listen

Despite delivering the necessary economic blueprint to get Queensland back on track after the financial armageddon unleashed the disastrous Beattie and Bligh administrations, too many everyday Queenslanders turned their backs on Newman.

Ultimately the reason was very simple.

Newman and company hurt too many people and made far too many enemies in too short a time not to cop a backlash at the polling booth. Worst of all they failed to communicate effectively and tell Queenslanders of the very impressive lists of accomplishments they achieved in the past three years.

So what if Labor under Beattie and Bligh had been a government built on spin and incompetence that had virtually bankrupted Queensland.

That was in the past. Newman was an arrogant little upstart and that was all that mattered now.

What unfolded on Saturday night stunned even the most seasoned political watchers. Yes, Newman was expected to possibly lose his seat but the plan was the LNP would ultimately retain government.

Certainly the LNP's bid for a second term was damaged by the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Tony Abbott, changes to Medicare, and concerns over asset sales within Queensland. It was also cruelled by the disturbing personal vendetta launched by radio shock jock Alan Jones.

It was Labor's simple message that 'He just won't listen to Queenslanders' that brilliantly summed up the electorates' perception of Newman.

How a media strategy that involved Newman only talking about issues that he was willing to talk about beggars belief. Why genuine lobby groups including those representing Queensland farmers were denied access to key ministers remains a mystery. The perception of arrogance was underscored time and time again.

The biggest loser to emerge from the 2015 state election is agriculture. Under the LNP, agriculture was considered a pillar of the Queensland economy. Under Labor expect to see agriculture lose its focus as part of a much larger green influenced government department and again be managed by a junior minister.

Premier-elect Annastacia Palaszczuk signalled loud and clear during the election campaign that agriculture was in the firing line over a range of environmental and animal welfare issues.

Labor's overly influential bed-fellows - extreme environmental groups including the WWF and the Wilderness Society - will now demand payback for their roles in white-anting the LNP and overt support of the Palaszczuk camp.

Common sense reforms to the Vegetation Management Act will be repealed, greater restrictions placed on farming practices alongside the Great Barrier Reef, and new regulations will be introduced on how animals are farmed, transported and slaughtered.

What Queensland won't see is any windback or new restrictions on the roll out of the mining or coal seam gas industry. Equally, don't expect any breaks on electricity pricing or spending on necessary infrastructure such as the vital second range crossing at Toowoomba.

Given the decision not to sell Queensland-owned assets, the likely Palaszczuk Government will be desperate for every cent of revenue it can raise.

Agriculture will pay the price.