We often hear about the value of Queensland’s agriculture sector from governments, and let’s be honest, nearly $20 billion is a big number. We also often hear about how much of what our farmers produce is exported, with chickpeas exciting the Treasury offices last season. Again, the numbers are impressive – almost $11 billion in value to the state’s economy.
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‘Pillar of the economy’ is another well-worn and apt phrase. With 26,000 farm businesses directly employing over 60,000 Queenslanders, as well as the 315,000 jobs across the whole food supply chain, the sector provides a sense of purpose and economic opportunity for many Queenslanders.
What we don’t hear enough about is a clear, well-articulated vision for our sector. There is no doubt that agriculture has enormous potential to build upon its already impressive record in this state, and it is primed for a government willing to seize the opportunities in front of us. For too long, contradictory policy objectives have been common and the demonstrated action usually does not reflect the rhetoric, and contradictory policy objectives are progressed.
QFF’s vision for ‘A vibrant and thriving sector providing food, fibre and amenity to all Queenslanders’ identifies 10 policy areas that require urgent action. Addressing these areas will go a long way towards reigniting productivity growth rates, which have been below other comparable nations for 20 years. Productivity growth is a key determinant of farm profitability and is important for maintaining our sector’s international competitiveness. If not addressed, we risk deterioration of the ‘pillar’, rather than strengthening this critical economy support structure.
QFF’s 10 policy areas of action:
1. Electricity – prices must be set at efficient levels, hidden taxes removed, and affordable agricultural specific tariffs retained or developed.
2. Water – the right pricing, governance and administration of agricultural water to take advantage of the growing demand from domestic and international markets.
3. RD&E: Water/Energy/Productivity nexus –research the nexus issue, and deliver an industry-led program that improve sector wide productivity and efficiency.
4. Jobs, skills and productivity – invest in workforce planning to ensure the sector can meet the workforce challenges and capitalise on the opportunities ahead.
5. Biosecurity & Trade – appropriate investment in preventative measures to protect and maintain our state’s production and trade reputation.
6. Protecting agricultural land – a planning framework that provides more consistent and greater protections for irreplaceable prime agricultural land.
7. Risk management and climate variability – remove ineffective taxes, continue preliminary work to develop suitable insurance products and evolve programs to better support farmers to deal with climate impacts.
8. Connection infrastructure – infrastructure that joins agriculture with ongoing and new opportunities such as telecommunications, roads, dams and rail.
9. Great Barrier Reef – the right level of investment, appropriate governance and reporting frameworks to ensure a healthy agriculture sector and a healthy reef.
10. Vegetation management – an inclusive, objective and evidence based approach to deliver a sensible, sustainable, long-term system for Queensland.
Government must guarantee farmers fair production costs, create and foster an environment that promotes productivity and resilience, and ensure the building blocks and infrastructure that underpin the sector are in place. Low risk investment in food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity is compelling.
QFF urges those vying for public office and the voting public to remember that a thriving and vibrant agriculture sector is not just good for farmers – it is good for everyone.
The QFF Policy Platform and summary are available online: https://www.qff.org.au/queensland-election/
