Local landholders will march on the office of North Queensland Minister Coralee O’Rourke this Saturday to call for support for ‘fair laws for farmers’ and the development of the North.
AgForce North Queensland president Russell Lethbridge said the protest rally was aimed at spreading the message that the Palaszczuk Government’s proposed vegetation management laws would drive up food prices, shut down regional development and cost jobs.
“With Townsville’s unemployment rate at above 13 per cent and the highest in Queensland, you would think local State Government MPs would be looking at doing everything they can to support job creation, not introducing laws that stifle development and job opportunities,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“Coralee O’Rourke, Scott Stewart and Aaron Harper are supposed to be the north’s voice in Brisbane, yet they are backing a policy aimed at appeasing extreme green views in Brisbane at the expense of jobs in North Queensland,” he said.
“If the State Government is serious about ‘developing the north’, why is it introducing laws that restrict high value agriculture opportunities in the north?
“Farmers just want a fair go. They just want to be able to grow their businesses and produce more food.
“It’s about time the three local Labor MPs started explaining to the people of North Queensland why they won’t stand up for local jobs and why they won’t support fair laws for farmers.”
Mr Lethbridge said the Townsville rally would meet at Tom’s Tavern car park on Nathan Street (behind Stocklands) from 10am this Saturday (23 July) before marching to Coralee O’Rourke’s office.
“We encourage anyone concerned about the economic future of North Queensland to come along and show your support at this weekend’s rally,” he said.
More information about AgForce’s campaign is available at www.fairlawsforfarmers.com
