KEY AgForce personnel are hitting the road to promote the "need for reliable evidence" as the state government ponders new regulations for the Great Barrier Reef.
On February 27, the government introduced the Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Reef Protection Bill) and AgForce believes the proposed regulations will affect producers and grain growers across six reef catchments.
AgForce has strongly opposed the bill as an "unnecessary impost on farmers" with more red tape "that will provide absolutely no benefit to the reef" in terms of water quality.
Last month the federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said the planned regulations would be a serious impediment to the sector and state Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said there should be re-think of the bill.
Now AgForce is embarking on a roadshow with a series of information sessions from September 11-13 involving its senior policy officer Dr Greg Leach and Professor Peter Ridd.
Once dismissed from James Cook University and subsequently compensated after lengthy court proceedings, Professor Ridd has repeatedly questioned the quality of data used to dictate the health of the reef.
It is understood his presentation will include previously unseen slides.
Dr Leach will address AgForce's continued efforts to advocate for rural and regional Queensland in relation to the "profound" and "devastating" impact existing and proposed regulations may have on landholders.
The first of the roadshow sessions will be at the Town Hall, corner of Dryden and Tennyson streets, Alpha, from 4pm on September 11 before moving to the Cultural Centre, Peak Downs Street, Capella, at 9am the following day.
Later on September 12 a third meeting will be convened in the Kianga Memorial Hall, corner of McArthur and Young streets, Moura, from 4pm.
The fourth session will be held at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange, Gracemere, from 9am on September 13.