Funds allocated to develop Northern Australian are the key to re-invigorating north and northwest Queensland and need to start flowing into communities still reeling from long-term drought conditions, a beef industry leader believes.
Barry Hughes, who was re-elected president of the Gulf Cattleman’s Association (GCA) at the annual general meeting last month, said the industry in the region was still reeling from debt burden following years of drought.
“We need to kick start confidence, we need to kick start economic development and we need to see some of the Northern Australian development monies being put in place,” Mr Hughes said.
He said it was important that key players collaborated to make sure the money started to flow where it was needed.
Mr Hughes nominated redeveloping Karumba Port, which was a key market for the association’s members, as a key project to help re-energise the industry.
“We have very limited form of support financially from the State Government but it’s not locked in for a long-term period,” Mr Hughes said.
“This is well and truly at the top of the agenda for GCA.
“We need continuity and security around a funding package for the Karumba Port and also a development package.
“We have a good relationship with the Indigenous group that owns the land and we have already had preliminary talks in assisting those guys in further developing that land.”
Mr Hughes said the association was keen to see recommendations from the State Government’s debt taskforce delivered, and would be keeping a close watch on the political scene, with a state election a possibility in 2017.
“We need to see government get a bit fair dinkum about the way they are looking at dealing with the debt issue and the wider ramifications of how communities linked to the cattle industry are still suffering from that downturn,” Mr Hughes said.
“We need to be forcing the iniaitives in ways of re-energising for funding for other projects.
“We need to be on the front foot; if the 2017 season treats us right we need to be at the forefront in making sure we get what our industry deserves.”
