Both major parties declare support for Beef Australia

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Leader of The Nationals Barnaby Joyce is in Rockhampton today, and stopped off at the Rockhampton showgrounds to make the announcement. 

At a press conference at the show, Mr Joyce said he was thrilled to see the event grow. 

“Of course there’s no better time to be back in Rocky than when we are showing some heifers here,” he said.

“It’s also good to be part and parcel of growing Central Queensland as the beef capital I believe of south-east Asia, of the southern hemisphere and to make it our version of Dallas-Fort Worth.

“A place that is absolutely and utterly concentrating on… their heritage in the cattle industry.

“It’s great to be able to announce a further $3 million for beef week.” 

Mr Joyce said the Beef Australia event’s continuing success paid big dividends for the nation’s cattle industry as well as Central Queensland’s economy.

“Beef Australia makes a huge contribution to the tourism, hospitality and recreation sectors across the region, bringing tens of thousands of people to enjoy all that Rockhampton, Queensland and Australia has to offer,” Mr Joyce said.

“It demonstrates the important but often unrecognised role our agricultural industries play in bringing Australia closer to the world.

“In 2013-14 Australia exported around 1.2 million tonnes of beef product, valued at $6.2 billion. In that same year we exported 1.13 million head of live cattle, valued at $1 billion.”

Beef Australia 2018 chair Blair Angus said he was very happy to accept the support. 

“Really the beef industry is one of the pillars of our economy,” Mr Angus said. 

“I think you’re acknowledgement of that with your support today will go a long way to create Beef 2018, which we hope will be even better than Beef 2015.”