Budget boosts and protects Queensland agriculture

The Palaszczuk Government’s 2016-17 State Budget invests heavily to boost biosecurity capacity, protect our iconic banana industry, and support the rural sector in its fourth consecutive year of severe drought.

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Leanne Donaldson said the $453.9 million budget for 2016-17 for DAF demonstrated the government’s commitment to our economically vital rural industries and the 103,400 people who work in food and agribusiness.

The budget comprises $439 million in department funding and an additional $15 million in funds to be administered by DAF.

The centrepiece is a $77.9 million Rural Assistance and Drought Package.

The Minister said with no end to the drought in sight, the government was continuing its support of impacted producers through the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme, rural financial counselling services, and other drought relief measures totalling $28.2 million in 2016-17 for both assistance and better preparedness for drought.

“We will also establish a Queensland Climate Risk and Drought Resilience program to improve farm business capacity, seasonal forecasting and provide decision support tools to better manage climate risk,” she said.

“We are providing further funding of $3.7 million over three years for the better control of wild dogs in far western areas affected by drought.

“This will include supporting pest and weed management for landholders. This funding is additional to the $5 million announced in May by the Premier for a cluster fencing program to support sheep farmers and to the $15 million Feral Pest Initiative previously announced jointly with the Federal Government.

“Allied with this is the Rural Assistance Package, which is aimed at reducing financial stress and improving financial sustainability to assist the sector service debt.”

The Minister said the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority would be reconstituted as the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority to reflect a broader role including an industry development emphasis and expanding its Board Charter to include policy research and advice to government regarding the financial sustainability of Queensland’s agricultural sector, including partnerships with the private banking sector.

• further pest and weed management programs
• introducing new legislation for compulsory farm debt mediation
• reconfiguring the Primary Industry Productivity Enhancement Scheme (PIPES) loans and lending facilities to make them more accessible and relevant to Queensland’s farming families’ grants to support farm financial management, climate risk mitigation, succession planning and undertaking of multi-peril insurance assessment, which will be administered by QRIDA,
• establishing an Office of Rural Affairs.

The Minister said there was $16.8 million for equipment and upgrade research facility upgrades to deliver even better outcomes for agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry.

Highlights include:

• $4.4 million for the Research Facilities Development, Scientific Equipment and Minor Works Programs
• $2.3 million for the upgrade and refurbishment of existing facilities at Toowoomba
• $1.8 million for new and replacement heavy plant and equipment
• $800,000 for replacement of vessels and marine equipment
• $700,000 for upgrades and additional infrastructure at Hermitage Research Facility.

“We have also set aside $1 million to purchase a new research property, at a location yet to be decided, in partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

“In an exciting new development, we will be working within the Advance Queensland scope by providing $4.8 million over four years (including $3.9 million of new funding) for better approaches to commercialising the department's intellectual property.”

DAF will continue to progress the Government's Sustainable Fishing Policy including processes that will:

• reform regulatory arrangements governing Queensland fisheries across all sectors
• review the regulatory structure of commercial fishing to ensure the sustainability of Queensland's fisheries
• release a discussion paper on the Charter Fishing Action Plan
• engage with both recreational and commercial fishing organisations to investigate how a commercial net-free fishing area can be best instituted in Moreton Bay to obtain the maximum gain from the fisheries resource in Moreton Bay for the benefit of the region
• begin implementation of initiatives outlined in the Queensland Aquaculture Policy Statement.

 Biosecurity strengthened

“We recognise that Queensland is the frontline state for many exotic pests and diseases so biosecurity is a major priority in this budget,” the Minister said.

“The centrepiece is additional funding of $10.8 million over four years to begin implementing the recommendations of the Biosecurity Capability Review.

“This will raise our available investment to $30.2 million across this period enabling greater strengthening of the incident preparedness and response capability of Queensland's biosecurity systems.

“When we released our response to the report and recommendations of the independent panel’s review of biosecurity capability we accepted there would need to be significant changes.

“We have started the process of change and the funding in this Budget shows our commitment to the panel’s conclusions.”

 In 2016-17 we will begin rolling out a range of biosecurity initiatives, including:

• commencement of the Biosecurity Act 2014 and the Exhibited Animals Act 2015
• development of a five year future directions Biosecurity strategy and action plan that outlines roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders within the biosecurity system
• boosting marine pest preparedness and prevention, and enhancing diagnostic services
• a regional pilot program with local government and natural resource management groups to better target and coordinate the efforts of diverse groups working to support biosecurity
• better biosecurity information with the ongoing development of the Biosecurity Information Management System.

Fighting Panama disease

The Minister said in addition, the government was allocating $7.3 million, including $5.2 million of new funding, for the ongoing management of Panama disease Tropical race 4.

“Since the disease was first detected on a farm near Tully in March 2015, we have worked closely with industry and growers to prevent any further spread,” Minister Donaldson said.

“To date, there has been no sign of the disease at other locations outside the Tully farm and we plan to keep it that way by maintaining the current intense levels of surveillance, testing and grower education.

“The containment campaign has been so successful we can carry over $2.1 million from last year’s budget allocation.

“We will also continue our eradication programs for red witchweed, four tropical weeds and exotic fruit fly in the Torres Strait.”

The Minister said the ongoing national cost sharing arrangement for continuing the Red Imported Fire Ant Program for 2016-17 had just been finalised.

“All states and territories have agreed to the next instalment of $16 million (including $14.5 million in additional funding from the Commonwealth and other States) in nationally-cost shared funding in recognition that the goal of eradication is achievable.

Boost for the RSPCA

“This year’s budget also includes a funding boost for the RSPCA taking our support to $500,000 annually.

“The RSPCA helps us ensure high animal welfare standards and regulatory compliance by animal owners.

“RSPCA Queensland will play an important role in enforcing new requirements for dog breeders. In further assistance, we are providing $1.5 million per annum over two years in 2016-17 and 2017-18 as a grant to the RSPCA for facility upgrades in Cairns and Townsville.”

Media: 0448 994 172