Subject: Election Policy 2012

Transcription

1 kgfirst Floor, 183 North Quay, Brisbane, Qld, 4000 PO Box 13186, North Bank Plaza, Cnr George & Ann Streets, Brisbane Qld 4003 Telephone: (07) Facsimile: (07) Subject: Election Policy 2012 Contact: AgForce CEO Robert Walker, Date: 20 January 2012 AgForce Queensland (AgForce) was established in 1999 and is the peak body representing thousands of Queensland beef, sheep and wool, and grains primary producers who recognise the value in having a strong voice. These broad-acre industries manage 80% of the Queensland landmass for production and most rural and regional economies are dependent on these industries directly and indirectly for their livelihood. AgForce delivers key lobbying outcomes and services for members and presents the facts about modern farming to consumers through the Every Family Needs a Farmer campaign. AgForce is proudly apolitical and has been in regular communication with politicians from both Labor and the LNP to shape their policy platforms in the lead up to the 2012 election. The organisations efforts are directed in five major policy areas: Land management Rural and regional economic development Transport and infrastructure Biosecurity Industry image The following document splits these over-arching issues into policy sub-headings for ease of consideration, but is not an exhaustive list of AgForce member concerns. Our CEO and key policy staff are available for further detail on these and other matters should you wish to contact them. Robert Walker Drew Wagner Andrew Simpson Dale Miller Rachael Pratt Nina Murray Tamara Badenoch Lauren Hewitt CEO Senior policy advisor (general) Cattle policy director Senior policy advisor (economic development/water) Sheep & Wool policy director Grain policy director Project manager, Protected Areas Leasehold project officer 1

2 CSG and coal mining When the mining companies are gone, what will be left of our landscape, our farm businesses and our regional communities? With 80% of Queensland under mineral exploration or production leases, Queensland farmers feel under siege from the resources sector and long term food security is being put at risk. Farmers appreciate underground resources are publicly-owned and managed by government, and there may be short to medium-term economic benefits delivered by the resources sector. However, AgForce continues to argue mining development must not come at the expense of the long-term production of food and fibre for all Queenslanders. Open-cut coal mines and coal seam gas production are threatening day-to-day farming operations across the state. Existing production systems are at the least disturbed, if not shut down altogether; landholders expend time and energy negotiating with mining companies; and there are no guarantees the environment isn t being permanently damaged. We seek legislative measures that restore the balance between mining and agriculture. Long-term agricultural production must take precedence over short-term mining profits. We acknowledge progress has been made towards protecting prime agricultural land and regulating the activities of mining companies but more needs to be done. The following provides a snapshot of our key concerns and the actions the Queensland government can take to address them. Increasing encroachment of CSG and coal mining onto/beneath agricultural land. Ongoing development of coal mining in the Golden Triangle despite SCL. Power imbalance between resource companies and landholders. UCG industry developing without sufficient science. Lack of science on short and long term environmental impacts of CSG/UCG production. Lack of co-ordination between resource companies on infrastructure. Mining allowed on Nature Refuges providing little incentive for landholder participation and little protection for environment. Moratorium on further CSG development Rapid implementation of SCL laws Development of similar laws to protect grazing land Stronger enforcement of land access arrangements. CSG companies to compensate ALL costs borne by landholders in negotiating Conduct and Compensation agreements (including time) Clearer definition of preliminary vs advanced exploration activities Mandatory requirement for CSG companies to negotiate with landholders with grazing agreements before exploration on a stock route Moratorium on UCG developments Immediate independent scientific review of CSG/UCG impacts Development of multi-use infrastructure corridors Ban on all resource developments on Nature Refuges 2

3 Leasehold Land Leaseholders need certainty of tenure and affordable rent to care for the land and produce food for the community. With over 60% of the Queensland managed by landholders who lease their land from the State, there is a need to create certainty and security of tenure in order to achieve the best long-term management of this land. The current methodology for calculating rent on leasehold land is based on land value and therefore fails to recognise that agriculture requires a large capital asset to be able to generate farm income, and additionally that the value of those assets are not realised until sold. A methodology for calculating rent based on capital value doesn t reflect the potential income generated from those assets. For example, while land rent is increasing at an average 20% per year, beef prices have declined in real terms since Failure to change the current system places the sustainable management of leasehold land and the viability of agricultural industries at risk. To support long-term land management investment Queensland producers require certainty in their ongoing ability to access leasehold land for the long-term. Therefore it is essential that the leasehold estate renewal process is not subject to political whim but is renewed and managed on an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable basis. To further enhance security on this land, lessees should be provided viable and affordable upgrade options to convert to a more secure tenure. The current Western Hardwoods Policy will see over 1.2 million hectares of sustainably grazed and harvested state forestry added to the already poorly managed protected area estate. The non-renewal of grazing in these State Forest areas will see 280 graziers lose their grazing permits and the loss of free pest, weed and fire management as well as the provision of other land conservation practices. Lease renewal process may be subject to political whim. Ongoing uncertainty over State Forest leases. Leasehold rents based on property values fail to reflect enterprise profitability. Prohibitively high land prices restrict the ability to convert term lease to a more secure tenure Long term commitment to and fine-tuning of Delbessie process of leasehold renewal Continued grazing access to forestry leases in Western Hardwoods zone An immediate review of leasehold rent methodology to develop a system that ensures: - No substantial rent rises without concurrent rises in farm income. - If government policy reduces farm returns, rents should be adjusted downwards to reflect lower profit - Rental methodology must use objective, robust and repeatable data Viable tenure conversion options for leasehold land be made available to all lessees 3

4 Transport and Infrastructure The ability of agriculture to deliver economic prosperity for all Queenslanders critically depends upon wellmaintained roads and rail, and ongoing improvements in transport infrastructure Queensland s vast distances provide special challenges for farmers and graziers to deliver their product to markets and to source inputs at a reasonable cost. The floods and cyclones of early 2011 severely damaged important transport routes, and brought into sharp focus the urgent need to make transport and infrastructure a government funding priority. Agforce is calling on the State government to identify the transport and infrastructure needs of Queensland s rural economic zones and to strongly prioritise the development of economic growth corridors outside South East Queensland. Agricultural businesses and communities can only deliver the State government s own vision of a $40 billion food value chain with a commensurate commitment from politicians to provide a pipeline of targeted investment to deliver infrastructure when and where it is needed most. There is an immediate need for infrastructure assessment to demonstrate the gap analysis and pinch points that will evolve from the growth expectations for the state. With this background and benchmark information in place, AgForce will lobby the State government to ensure that the needs of broad acre beef, sheep & wool, and grains producers are met. Importantly AgForce is prepared to partner with the Queensland government to ensure the regionally-specific needs at localised pinch points of the $13.7 billion agriculture and food sector are met. Recent partnerships have delivered improved road train access on critical cattle supply routes. Rural and regional roads in poor repair post 2011 floods and cyclone Ongoing erosion of QR National s service to rural industry Coal regularly displacing grain and cattle on QR National s CQ rail system Road restrictions prevent costeffective movement of agricultural produce, particularly cattle Immediate identification of key transport routes and streamlining of Flood Reconstruction Authority funding process for Local Councils Improved access to rail freight space for grain and cattle ex CQ Improved communication systems to allow producers/commodity exporters to manage changing circumstances Equity in government rail service provision with the state s urban population Equity in government rail service provision with resources sector Greater provision of heavy vehicle transportation allowances, energy price restraints and road and bridge modifications AgForce seeks specific action on the following key local corridors: Direct access corridors to Lakes Creek Abattoirs for TYPE 1 configuration Direct access to DALBY and TOOWOOMBA from all directions for TYPE 2 configuration Rebuild of the Rifle creek Bridge at Mt Molloy in Nth Queensland Rebuild of the Eidsvold Burnett River Crossing Bridge to allow for B Double transport Rebuild of the Toowoomba range road to allow for greater configuration of transport to port Improved access of the Duaringa Range road to allow for Type 2 configuration to the Bruce Hwy. Sealed completion of the Kennedy Highway 4

5 Vegetation management The most effective way of achieving sustainable land management practices is through recognition rather than over-regulation AgForce has at its core, a long-standing policy of supporting sustainable land management and strives to promote to government and the broader community the many landholders across Queensland who are already managing their land appropriately. AgForce believes legislation needs to strike an equitable balance between conservation and sustainable food and fibre production. In the recent political past, the scales have been weighted too heavily towards regulation and agriculture has suffered. A vast amount of conflicting, superfluous and impractical environmental legislation has been introduced over the last decade. In many cases this has resulted in perverse environmental outcomes where producers are spending vast amounts of time collating paperwork when this time would be better invested delivering on-farm outcomes. Further, the development of many regulations in isolation to the environment for which they are to apply is apparent by their impractical wording and application. We continue to argue that regulatory tools based on education, information-based strategies, economic instruments and self-regulation are far more effective ways to protect Queensland s precious environment. Despite their radical nature, farmers and graziers have adapted extremely well to landmark Vegetation Management laws introduced in Landholders now self-regulate through code assessable activities which provide a number of management solutions allowing them to choose the option which best suits their landscape and production system. The key to success of the vegetation management system has been regionally-specific self-regulation jointly developed by government and landholders, and based on feedback from people who manage the landscape on an everyday basis. s A vast amount of conflicting, superfluous and impractical environmental legislation has been introduced over the last decade No new vegetation management legislation Ongoing funding of landholder extension work provided by AgForce Projects to explain current vegetation management legislation 5

6 Water There is enough water for the environment, farmers and local communities - but take too much away and food and fibre production and the entire community will suffer The sustainable use and management of water is important to primary producers as this is the basis of sustaining their livelihoods while producing high quality, fresh, safe and affordable food and fibre. Sustainable use, security of access and the charging of fair and reasonable prices are paramount. AgForce believes long-term water security can only be achieved through State and Federal systems that strike a fair and appropriate balance between the needs of all water resource users, including water for the environment and for rural and urban water users. The management of rivers in the Murray Darling Basin is a critical issue for Queensland farmers with far-reaching impacts if not managed appropriately. Irrigated agriculture feeds and clothes all Australians, so any restrictions to sustainable agriculture will ultimately be felt in the hip-pockets and on the plates of our entire nation. We seek the delivery of a fair and transparent Basin Plan, with full accountability of the modelling, the assumptions underpinning it and the full detail of the environmental watering targets the credibility of this whole process and the livelihoods of rural communities depends on getting the balance right using all the management tools including science. The following provides a snapshot of our key concerns and the actions the Queensland government can take to address them. Murray Darling Basin process threatens existing water allocations to primary producers Dam infrastructure Wild Rivers Continue to promote Queensland s existing Water Resource Planning process and resist broad-scale Federal water buybacks Continue to support irrigation communities affected by the plan with timely and accurate water planning information Provide resources and information to all stakeholders in the Queensland section of the MDB for the localism process Investigate water supply opportunities to improve the reliability of food production in regional Queensland (e.g. Flinders River Northern Foodbowl proposal and Luggage Point re-use proposal) Specifically to finish the vision 2000 pipeline to supply 140,000ML of treated sewage water to Darling downs producers Repeal the Wild Rivers legislation and previous declarations 6

7 National Parks/World Heritage Areas and Nature Refuges Experienced landholders can make the best environmentalists It is in the long-term interests of both Queensland primary producers and the community that land be managed in a sustainable manner. AgForce has serious concerns that many conservation strategies involve removing agricultural and grazing enterprises from the landscape in the mistaken belief that this is the best way to conserve biodiversity and native animal species. Without properly-funded management regimes, National Parks and World Heritage Areas can instead become havens for pest plants and animals with a resultant loss in biodiversity, and heightened risk of damaging fires. AgForce strongly argues that areas like Cape York Peninsula are being mismanaged from afar by bureaucrats and conservation groups who fail to recognise that well-managed grazing can successfully co-exist, and enhance biodiversity preservation efforts. We seek legislative measures that allow for public land to be managed through stewardship programs and incentives, particularly public land that is remote and is in the best position to utilise the skills, knowledge and management techniques that surrounding landholders can offer. We also seek a policy framework that protects the excellent biodiversity conservation work that has been done on private land. The Nature Refuge program where landholders, many of them AgForce members, voluntarily protect areas of high-conservation values on their properties, has unfortunately failed to attract the ultimate support of the Queensland government protection from mining and resource development. AgForce is disappointed the State government continues to expand the area under National Park without implementing proper management regimes (the Auditor General s report No. 9, 2010 stated only 17% of national parks and protected areas in the public estate had management plans). We acknowledge progress has been made towards protecting prime agricultural land and regulating the activities of mining companies, and to redrafting the Queensland Master Plan for Protected Areas, but more needs to be done. Expansion of area declared National Park Lack of funding for National Park management Lack of recognition for the positive environmental outcomes of land stewardship programs that marry grazing enterprises with conservation Mining and Resource Development allowed on Nature Refuges Immediate revision of 20 million hectares by 2020 target for National Parks across Queensland Redistribute the $60 million estimated cost of National Park management plans into stewardship programs for the management programs listed in the Good Neighbour Policy (e.g. pest and weed control, fire management, fencing and stock management) Incorporate this investment into the Master Plan for Protected Areas to ensure the continuation of these strategies Immediate review of State and Federal government management of Cape York to ensure grazing remains a part of sensible conservation programs Develop a framework for the protection and sterilisation of mining and resource development on all Nature Refuges 7

8 Biosecurity Primary producers are Queensland s front-line biosecurity defenders but their efforts are critically underfunded Biosecurity describes efforts by the rural Industry and government to defend our state s borders from exotic pest and disease incursions. AgForce wants recognition of the critical role played by primary producers in preventing the spread of weed species to protect our natural environment, and by controlling pest animals that spread exotic disease. The wider community must understand that being free from pests and diseases means Australians have a reliable and safe food source, a natural environment that is not overrun with weeds or damaged by pest animals, and an outdoor lifestyle that we can enjoy. Pest species like wild dogs, feral pigs, mice and ticks are an ongoing biosecurity risk because of their role in transmitting disease. AgForce fears that while the entire community benefits, farmers will continue to be expected to foot the bill for the systems that deliver safe food and fibre such as the National Livestock Identification System. The Queensland government has just introduced to Parliament new legislation to streamline seven pieces of legislation into one. Unfortunately the Biosecurity Bill 2011 while an important symbolic step remains seriously underfunded. AgForce urges the Queensland government to take the risks of under-funding biosecurity more seriously. The landmark 2008 Beale review into National Biosecurity predicted a 12-month outbreak of food and mouth disease would cost Australia a mind-boggling $13-18 billion; it concluded state and federal agencies were significantly underfunded and needed an extra $260 million per annum to operate effectively. Unfortunately most of Beale s recommendations have been ignored and governments continue to pay lip-service to this critical issue. We implore the Queensland and federal governments to have the courage to ask taxpayers to share the cost of biosecurity through some type of community levy. A shortage of Biosecurity officers in regional Queensland No co-ordinated state-wide program to manage pests and weeds (with the exception of Wild Dogs) An extra 15 biosecurity officers in strategic locations across Queensland with specific roles and responsibilities. These officers should take responsibility for production and commercial animals only (domestic animals should remain the responsibility of RSPCA) Develop and implement management programs for Queensland s most serious pest plants and animals, with the appointment of local coordinators 8

9 Research, development, extension and training Modern farm businesses are increasingly complex how will Government partner with industry to deliver the knowledge and skills producers needed for sustainable food and fibre production? One in eight Queenslanders are employed in the agricultural sector. For rural and regional communities, a healthy and productive primary production sector means greater employment opportunities and the potential to sustain populations away from the coast. In the last decade prolonged drought, competition for land and labour, international market competition, and rising input costs has put considerable pressure on Queensland s cattle, sheep and grain farmers to find a reasonable return for their work. To meet these challenges, broadacre enterprises have had to become larger and more technologically complex to reduce labour and other costs while at the same time increasing production output and achieve the environmental outcomes demanded by the wider community. This requires far greater management skills in current day farmers than past generations. Along with their New Zealand counterparts, Australian farmers receive the least amount of Government support in the OECD. The majority of received public support is as a co-contribution to the cost of research, development and extension (RDE) and training. However the volume of public funding is decreasing over time and evidence suggests that improvements in agricultural productivity are slowing as a result. Farmers need new information, technologies and skills to find the productivity improvements needed for them to be able to continue to provide high quality and affordable food to Queensland consumers. We seek commitments from the political parties that they will strongly support broadacre farmers across Queensland in this important area. The following provides a snapshot of our key concerns and the actions the Queensland government can take to address them. Super departments fail to recognise economic and social importance of agriculture Low staff morale within DEEDI Stagnant RDE investment Lack of industry-relevant extension services Shortage of RDE graduates Workforce shortfalls Action required Create more agriculture/primary industry-focused department Increased funding for productivity-building collaborative agricultural RDE Increased delivery of production-focused extension programs by experienced staff Partner with industry to increase recruitment & retention within agricultural RDE careers Promote agriculture within the broader school curriculum in Queensland Market a qualification system that formally recognises the prior learning/skills of producers Include a focus on agriculture within any Work for Queensland type employment campaigns 9