Weekend of announcements relating to defence department land acquisition precedes Palaszczuk cabinet meeting in Rockhampton

It also followed the state LNP making its first announcement on an issue that cuts to the core of its heartland constituents, when opposition leader Tim Nicholls announced that he had written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, requesting he immediately intervene in the proposed acquisition of  rural properties in central and northern Queensland.

Mr Nicholls said Mr Turnbull needed to sort out the mess quickly and provide certainty for landholders and local communities.

“Even though this is a federal issue, the decision has massive implications for the agriculture sector and communities,” he said.

“Australia’s defence and good relations with our allies such as Singapore are of course important but the process the Australian Defence Force has undertaken has been confusing, muddled and needs a rethink.”

State shadow minister for agriculture, Dale Last said the loss of significant areas of productive grazing land north of Rockhampton and west of Townsville would have a big impact on the beef industry supply chain in Queensland.

“First we have had a drought which devastated our cattle industry and now the federal government is taking away prime agricultural land at both locations,” he said.

“The land at Shoalwater Bay and Herveys Range runs more than 100,000 head of cattle. You simply can't do this to our beef industry.”

Shadow Minister for Northern Development Andrew Cripps said there was no confidence in the current process and no clarity that all alternative options have been fully considered.

He said the ADF and the federal government needed to improve their communications with individual landholders who may be impacted, and properly outline how north and central Queensland will benefit from the defence training agreement with Singapore.

Federal agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said he would prefer no compulsory acquisition of any land but wouldn’t make any proclamations ahead of his fact-finding visit to the impacted region later this week.

The Palaszczuk government has announced an arrangement with Relationships Australia Queensland that will provide counselling to landholders affected by the proposed expansion of the Shoalwater Bay military training facility.

In an announcement tailored for the cabinet meeting in Rockhampton on Monday, no mention was made of whether the assistance was also available to landholders affected by the proposed land resumption in the Charters Towers region.

According to Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman, the counselling support was to be available from Monday this week.

“Many of the areas earmarked for the acquisition are working cattle stations that have been held and managed by families for multiple generations,” she said.

“A number of families have expressed a desire not to leave their family homes and this is obviously a very emotional time for them.

“This is why it’s vital that we provide emotional support to help landholders.”