Farmers and graziers across Queensland are bursting at the seams with potential, but until the policy settings around access to water and vegetation management, nothing will materialise, the Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.
Mr Katter joined the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils and mayors for their Disaster and Agriculture forum in Julia creek and heard of the opportunities and innovation that is ready to go.
“The time for studies and consultants’ reports is well and truly over. If anyone needs to know what needs to be done, ask the experts – those with dirt under their fingernails, with generations of experience. We don’t need more studies,” the KAP leader said.
“Our graziers and innovative farmers are experts in their own right. Graziers have managed this landscape and their businesses for generations, and the pioneering farmers are only achieving what they are because of their innovative and modern techniques.
“The message I heard loud and clear was we need access to the abundance of water in the catchment, nearly all of which flow right out to sea every wet season, and we need policy settings that get out of the way of graziers and farmers doing what they do best – producing Australian food and fibre,” Mr Katter said
The KAP leader reflected on the onerous and confidence sucking EPBC act changes, as well as state Vegetation Management laws and the impact they were having on the development of farming across the state.
“State based Vegetation Management Laws, implemented by Labor, and left unchanged by the LNP continue to hold back development in Queensland. Producers are scared to hook up a plough or planter to develop new industries and opportunities for our communities, and that’s been made even worse by the Commonwealth’s EPBC changes,” the KAP leader said.
“The last thing a pioneering landholder needs it to be constantly filling in paperwork and applications, looking over their shoulder whether they’ll be hauled over the coals.
“There’s welcome talk from the government to support increased cropping production, but they can’t fix policy by throwing money at studies,” he said.
The forum also heard from local graziers affected by the devastating floods earlier in the year, and how they are already looking to improve their preparedness for the next flood or drought.
“How good to hear of novel ideas, like building a common-user, community hay and supply shed in Julia Creek, with ready access 50km in every direction, so that next flood there’d be hay and other supplies ready to be distributed to affected properties. That’s innovation at its finest.
“You’d excuse these families if they were feeling sorry for themselves, trying to recover from a massive flood event, yet they’re talking about how they can be better positioned next time.
“I’m fully behind the idea of a community shed, and I’m working with Mayor Feagan and the McKinlay Shire to chart a path forward so we can make it a reality,” Mr Katter said.