AGFORCE says Labor’s plan to re-introduce flawed land management laws already rejected by parliament will shut down regional job and development opportunities.
AgForce president Grant Maudsley said Queensland farmers were fed up with being attacked election after election about how they managed their land.
The outburst follows renewed attacks on farmers by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who confirmed in Cairns today that if re-elected, Labor would reintroduce the failed laws, including the controversial reverse onus of proof component.
"Farmers have only ever asked for balanced and sensible vegetation management laws so we can provide food for family dinner tables across Australia and throughout the world," Mr Maudsley said.
"Farming families care about their land and know how to manage it responsibly. Farming is a difficult enough job as it is, we don't need politicians adding to the difficulties we face.
It seems that Labor is still more interested in green politics than good policy.
- Grant Maudsley, AgForce
"Labor's flawed laws will just make it harder for farmers to grow their businesses, which means fewer job opportunities in regions like North and Far North Queensland that are crying out for more jobs.
"The Premier said this week that 'if you don't understand regional Queensland, you don't understand Queensland', yet she has shown that she is the one who doesn't understand regional Queensland by clinging to these flawed laws.
"After the Premier's comments today, the Palaszczuk Labor Government appears even more confused than ever about what it is trying to achieve.
"It seems that Labor is still more interested in green politics than good policy."
Mr Maudsley said AgForce had proposed a commonsense plan to drive sustainable agricultural production and deliver good environmental outcomes for Queensland without strangling farmers in red tape.
"Queensland is now the most valuable agricultural state in the country, but we need politicians to help take agriculture forward, not hold us back," he said.
"Global demand for Queensland's high quality food and fibre is soaring, but we won't achieve our full potential without policies that support a healthy agricultural sector and a healthy environment."
CLICK HERE to read AgForce's Healthy Environment, Healthy Agriculture policy proposal and its Queensland Election platform.
