Still no answers for Queensland farmers from Federal Budget

Queensland farmers are no better informed about the Federal Budget than they have been for the past two weeks, Queensland Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Bill Byrne MP said today.

“For the past weeks we’ve heard plenty of spin and very little substance,” Minister Byrne said.

“In fact, the Federal budget hasn’t laid out a plan for Australian agriculture – if anything, it has set the scene for a messy fight between the states for basic funding.

“Queensland farmers wanted some solid answers last night and were left wanting. There is still no commitment for Queensland for the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate, no solid answers on the cost sharing of pests and diseases and some undefined loans for roads off in the distance.

“There are still no guidelines, no detail and no consultation to explain plans for feral pest management due to start in just 6 weeks. There’s no detail where any new financial counsellors will be based and no clear plan where ‘shovel ready projects’ for drought impacted farmers are located.

“Big numbers might make for good headlines but without clear and detailed commitments it’s hard to take a Government that has cut so much and hurt so many to take this new budget seriously yet.

“I will go into bat for Queensland to make sure that Queensland gets its fair share of any new funding – our farmers and farming communities deserve it.”

Last night’s agriculture budget hangs off a noticeable missing piece, which in the Federal Minister’s own words, is “the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper that is yet to come”.

“I call on the Federal Government to be upfront with the Australian people and release both the Northern Australia and the Agricultural Competitiveness White papers immediately,” Minister Byrne said.

“The White Papers that were due last year that could have allowed open and meaningful discussions about Agriculture funding for last night’s budget, yet are still being hidden from view”

“Canberra needs to open discussions now with Queensland to ensure that this money can be spent in the regions as soon as possible, not delayed until some later date in the future. These papers need to display both a realistic vision for Australia as well as clearly funded initiatives to make it a reality.

“Anything other than that is just a political grab bag,” Minister Byrne said.

“Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce may have gone on a drought tour recently, showing that whilst they may have walked the walk - last night they failed to talk the talk for Queensland.”

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