Australia - the country now famous for the revolving door of Prime Ministers. I think it goes without saying that we all hope Scott Morrison has put an end to this.
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The revolutions created significant uncertainty in rural Australia, with serious repercussions.
Has the media created this? All reports leading into this election was that the ALP was going to win, and win easily. Not the case.
Does this mean potentially they had it wrong in the previous mid-term polls? Was it these incorrect polls that led to the internal party pressures that resulted in the axing of numerous Prime Ministers?
Three Prime Ministers in six years had agricultural producers thinking the ALP would once again take power.
With the prospect of an ALP government, uncertainty was growing in rural Australia, particularly by not knowing where political support would come from.
Uncertainty was growing around live exports of sheep and cattle, which we know, after the ALP suspended the trade in 2011, has significant flow-on effects to the whole Australian market.
Further to this there was significant uncertainty as to the greater political clout the Greens and animal activists would have.
Vegetation management laws were being raised again. Other states knew the impact it had on Queensland so operations were putting more money into regrowth control.
This was at a time when drought was still present so the added cost caused even more hardship.
During this whole time, of both ALP and LNP leadership, one of the worst droughts in Queensland's history continued.
It seemed politicians would turn up for their 'photoshoot' and talk to affected families.
However, as politicians feared being axed, approval ratings were required and usually they come within the inner cities - so that is where most time was spent.
The drought was 'dealt with' with a bit of funding or certain loans. The flow-on effect from farmers being in drought wasn't addressed nearly as quickly as it should have been, if at all to the extent it deserved.
This led to local towns and communities feeling the pinch just as much as the drought-affected producers.
Scomo's action as Prime Minister to visit flood and drought-affected producers as one of his first priorities makes it seems he is genuine and will prioritise rural Australia.
He is following through with his flood package and continues to listen to the affected producers.
Despite the roulette wheel of Prime Ministers over the last 10 years, I believe we have hit the jackpot with Scomo.
- Central Queensland cattleman Sam Becker
