Cluster fence money calls building from AgForce and LNP

After sheep and wool president Alan Rae made a call in April for another $5m, AgForce this week reiterated that the continued roll-out of wild dog exclusion fencing at the top of its budget wish list.

President Grant Maudsley said agriculture was one of the pillars of the state's economy, and primary producers wanted targeted investment in infrastructure to help the sector continue to prosper and grow for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

"The assistance the federal and state governments have provided so far to  help sheep producers build fences to protect their flock has made an enormous difference in getting the industry back on its feet, but the job is not yet done," he said.

"Without exclusion fences, there's no sheep, it's as simple as that. Cluster fencing funding has been oversubscribed to date, which highlights how eager producers are to restock with sheep in the 45 million hectares of Queensland that is suitable for sheep grazing."

It was a theme taken up by opposition leader Tim Nicholls when he attended the Western Queensland Local Government Association conference in Barcaldine last week.

Saying that it was begun by the Newman government and continued by the Palaszczuk government, he described funding as “a tap that’s been turned off”.

“We have our own policy position in relation to cluster fencing, which we’re finalising and working on, and we’ll be making an announcement that will be of keen interest to all who want to see the re-establishment of the sheep industry in central west Queensland,” he flagged.

“There’s lots of things that go into the policy but funding is obviously in the mix there, as is support for example for the schemes that have been put in place in Longreach, which seems to be, from our discussions, a very well-supported scheme by residents of the Longreach Regional Council.

“There are other opportunities there.”