Newly appointed Queensland Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner opened Cotton Australia’s new Toowoomba office during a trip to the Darling downs on January 17.
General manager of Cotton Australia, Michael Murray, said the visit was an opportunity to be able to brief the new Minister for Agriculture so early in his term on the opportunities and issues faced by Queensland’s $800 million farmgate cotton industry.
Issues discussed included the minister’s clear commitment to thoroughly reviewing the nine per cent stamp duty on agricultural insurance products.
“Cotton Australia was also heartened by the minister’s support for a Ministerial Agriculture Committee, and Cotton Australia looks forward to having input in how this can be best structured, so that all of government can be across the key areas that impact on agriculture,” Mr Murray said.
The meeting impressed on the minister that it was imperative the Queensland Government issued a strong statement in support of the Northern Basin Review amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin.
The issue of phenoxy spray drift was discussed, and Cotton Australia called on Biosecurity Queensland to increase its compliance and education in this area.