New lessons for new ag minister

Stephen and Annabel Tully hosted Mr Byrne at their beef and sheep property for several hours before he flew out to meet graziers in Charleville.

It was the final leg of a three-day tour of central and south west Queensland that also saw Mr Byrne visit Emerald, Longreach and Ilfracombe.

Stephen Tully said a small group of about seven local landholders gathered to meet Mr Byrne at Bunginderry and most were “pleasantly surprised” by the demeanour of the new Minister.

“I think he is definitely someone we can work with and someone who will stand up for agriculture in cabinet which is a very positive step forward no matter who is in government,” he said.

“My overriding message to him was that we don’t want a 'them and us' type approach that we have had with previous Labor Governments and he seemed very receptive to that idea.”

Mr Tully said he spent a lot of time talking about current and past vegetation management practices and showing the Minister first hand, the result of those practices.

“We showed him some young Gidgee thickening where it had basically killed all the adult trees and nothing was growing underneath,” he said.

“We also showed him the fodder harvesting that had been done at various times and the different stages of growth it was now in.

“It gave him a sense of how this looks from the ground and how it works in practice.”

Mr Tully said there was also a lot of discussion about the impact of kangaroos and wild dogs on local grazing businesses.

“We specifically talked about dogs and cluster fencing and how that will start to make a difference to a lot of people,” he said.

“But also that it can’t just be one approach to the problem. It’s about a collaborative effort of baiting, trapping and cluster fencing.”

Speaking to Queensland Country Life after his last meeting in Charleville yesterday afternoon, Mr Byrne said that no topic had been “off limits” during the tour.

"One of my top priorities was to get my boots dirty on farming properties, to meet producers and graziers and to hear their concerns,” he said.

"I met with western Queensland mayors and with the Central Western Queensland Wild Dog Control Fence Steering Committee and I have visited the Longreach Pastoral College.

“In Quilpie and again in Charleville the farmers I have met have been straight talking and I am convinced I now have a good understanding of the pressing problems they face, and no shortage of advice about what should be done.

"No subject has been off limits in discussions and this visit has been invaluable for me to get a clear picture of the issues.

"Seeing the impact of the continuing devastating drought in the Longreach area is an emotional experience.

"It is impossible not to feel profound sympathy for the plight of those who are affected.”

Mr Byrne also met with about 15 AgForce representatives and members in Emerald on Wednesday for a round table discussion on a wide range of topics including stewardship of land, natural disaster recovery, live cattle export, labour shortages, BJD, agricultural research and development, livestock transport by train, red tape and rising costs.

"On every subject raised I have engaged openly and transparently,” he said.

“I am part of a government that has pledged to listen, consult and engage and I will do my level best to represent the best interests of the industry every day.

"My message is that Queensland must have an agricultural sector that is successful, profitable and sustainable. That is my aim and my intention."