A re-elected Palaszczuk government would allocate $5 million over two years to continue the cluster fencing projects set to reinvigorate Queensland’s sheep and wool industry.
Tuesday’s announcement of ongoing funding was unsurprisingly well received, with AgForce saying Labor had picked up on a key initiative they had championed.
"Wild dogs have had a devastating effect on the Queensland sheep industry for decades, but the roll-out of fencing supported by federal and state government programs is helping the sector rebuild,” president Grant Maudsley said.
"While the $5 million over two years to support more cluster fencing is welcome and a good start, we believe $5 million a year is needed to meet the enormous demand and ensure the job gets done properly."
The LNP’s Lachlan Millar said it was always good to see money for cluster fencing but said that once it was broken down, the pledge was a similar amount to that allocated in this year’s budget.
“We saw $5m in the 2015-16 budget, but that was reduced dramatically to $1.2m in the last budget.
“If you break down this promise, it’s $2.5m a year, broken up between RAPAD and South West NRM, or the same amount we’ve had.”
When quizzed on what the LNP alternative was, Mr Millar said an announcement on cluster fencing and prickly acacia would be made shortly, assuring people it would be a “good announcement”.
“We’ve got to continue to invest because cluster fencing is a significant contributor to people getting their confidence back in the west.”
Premier Palaszczuk said Labor had kept its promise and the results were there for all to see.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that my government’s vision and commitment to cluster fencing has been transformational for producers, small businesses and rural communities and if re-elected we will continue to support projects to eliminate the threat of wild dogs,” she said.
“Going into the 2015 election Labor promised $5 million over three years to tackle the problem feral animals pose to our producers.
“Over three years we not only kept our promise, we exceeded it six-fold and the results of our cluster fencing program are there for all to see.
“To date we have committed $31.2 million – in grants and loans – to build up to 7500 kilometres of fences."
Mr Millar said it was a stretch for Labor to claim the $18m loan to the Longreach Regional Council as a government contribution, as all they had done was guarantee the loan from QIC.
LNP cluster fence commitment query
Acting Agriculture Minister, Anthony Lynham said Labor’s vision to revive the sheep and wool industry had not been supported by the LNP.
“Queenslanders can have no faith that the LNP understands the benefits of cluster fences,” he said.
“As recently as January 11, 2016, LNP deputy leader Deb Frecklington was deriding the investment.
She said: “The Palaszczuk Labor government is clearly not interested in the impact wild dogs have on our grazing industries. Labor seems to believe the wild dog menace will be solved by shiny new fences being erected in cluster models promoted by individuals and some local shires.”
Ms Frecklington said her comment, which was noting that one size doesn’t fit all in the wild dog control debate, had been taken out of context.
“The LNP has always been a supporter of cluster fences, from when John McVeigh was the minister, and working with Barnaby Joyce at a federal level.
“This is all the Labor Party has.
“I’m sick of them treating regional Queenslanders like fools.
“The LNP has always supported cluster fencing as well as other methods of wild dog control.”
