Queensland Farmers Federation State election 2015 statement

The below is a summary of major party election policies that QFF perceives to be relevant to
agricultural regions of the State as at January 27, 2015.
Party
Commitment
LNP

LNP

LNP

LNP

ALP

ALP

ALP

ALP

The LNP has promised an initial funding

allocation of $375 million for an inland
alternative to the Bruce Highway (using
existing roads). The funding will improve some
sections of road and add flood proofing. It is a
welcome commitment but the length (Brisbane to
Cairns) and condition of the road means that the
specific upgrades will not result in a major
transformation. The LNP has also provided
significant road funding to the Bruce Highway and
its Royalties to Regions fund.
The asset privatisation program will fund
electricity price relief for households.
According to the LNP, an average Queensland
household will save $577 on their power bills over
the next five years while a typical small business
will save $650 (Tariff 20) over the same period. It
is unclear if this will provide any notable relief for
farmers and farm tariffs, and over what time
period the price relief would apply for.
The asset privatisation program will fund a $90
million into a new Research to Reality program to
stimulate innovation and research. It will also
fund $500 million for a Strong Choices
Entrepreneurial and Innovation Fund to secure
long-term future investment in collaborative
innovation, research and development.
The asset privatisation program would fund
improvements to up to 36 dilapidated rural
hospitals, replacing them with new facilities. The
funding is for $300 million and projects would
start at Morvern and Cunnamulla.
The ALP would establish a Rural Job Agency in
conjunction with industry. It will also look at
partnerships between ag colleges and
universities to deliver skills based training.
An additional $5 million over three years to
destroy wild dogs and cats. Agriculture will be
looking for an emphasis on wild dogs.
A public inquiry into electricity prices to
investigate short and long term options to price
increases. Industry welcomes the inquiry but is
wary that such processes are time consuming
and often yield little benefit at their conclusion.
Establish animal welfare advisory boards
comprising technical, community and industry
representatives to advise on the humane
treatment of animals. Industry welcomes a
transparent and consultative process, but notes

ALP

ALP
ALP

ALP

ALP

ALP

Authorised by Dan Galligan, PO Box 12009 Brisbane.

that Queensland farm practice standards are

world leading and already operate under rigorous
guidelines. A new government should work with
industry in promoting its high production
standards.
Develop a research and development
blueprint. Such a blueprint needs real funding
commitments attached to it to be meaningful.
Conduct a review of biosecurity to improve the
response to outbreaks.
The ALP has promised a $100 million investment
over five years to meet new targets and reduce
pollution run-off for the Great Barrier Reef. It
also proposes to form a new committee to look at
Reef issues, but has provided insufficient detail
on where the funding would be spent and the
new targets.
The ALP plans to roll back changes to the
Vegetation Management Act and the Water
Act 2014. Industry not supportive.
The ALP has made a number of other policy
statements in its 2014 policy document that have
not been mentioned in the campaign. These
include:
* Labor will regulate groundwater extraction and
injections in order to protect groundwater
dependent ecosystems and agriculture.
* Labor will strictly regulate wastewater
discharged from agriculture, industry, mining and
urban areas to waterways.
* Labor will ensure that new dams are supported
only where there is a recognised need that
cannot be met by alternative options, and where
the impact to the environment can be minimised.
* Labor will protect pristine or wild rivers from all
potentially deleterious developments.
* Labor will legally protect environmental flows to
ensure the health of rivers and groundwater
systems.
Industry is concerned that these potential policies
pose a notable risk to Queensland farmers in
terms of burdening them with unnecessary
regulation and laws that impede their productivity.
Labor has pledged to double the annual
Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme
funding for the Roads and Transport Alliance
to $60 million. It would also
establish a $35 million a year Regional Capital
Fund for infrastructure projects in provincial cities
and surrounding rural areas
establish a $27.5 million a year Royalties for
Resource Producing Communities Fund for
infrastructure projects in mining communities
establish a $7.5 million a year Remote
Communities Infrastructure Fund for
infrastructure projects in remote communities.