Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am a farmer and grazier, and I'm very pleased to second this motion, moved by my colleague, the member for Capricornia, which acknowledges that agriculture is the cornerstone of Australian social, economic and environmental sustainability and that it plays an essential role in our nation's prosperity. In the 2023-24 financial year, the agricultural sector generated over $82 billion, driving Australia's economy forward. The agricultural sector employs 257,000 Australians, and over 90 per cent of the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs available in Australia is produced locally, safeguarding our nation's food security.

The hardworking men and women of Central Queensland and Wide Bay have a strong history of feeding this nation. Whether it's beef from Proserpine, citrus from Mundubbera, sugar cane from Gin Gin, eggs from Mount Morgan, milk from the Boyne Valley, wheat from the central highlands or sorghum from Taroom district in Central Queensland, Wide Bay has a thriving agricultural industry. According to the Queensland government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland's contribution to the national economy in 2022-23 included 96 per cent of sugar cane, 67 per cent of grain sorghum, 33 per cent of cotton, 94 per cent of bananas, 70 per cent of macadamias, 70 per cent of sweet corn, 65 per cent of avocados, 58 per cent of lemons and limes, 53 per cent of fresh beans, 53 per cent of capsicums, 50 per cent of mandarins and mangoes and 48 per cent of the national cattle herd.

The motion further notes that the Australian agricultural sector is facing increased pressure due to this government's destructive actions. The government's decision to scrap the dedicated agricultural visa has left the industry with severe and widespread workforce shortages. Australia's water security is being jeopardised by this federal government's reckless slashing of over $7 billion from critical water infrastructure projects. This government's misguided agricultural policies have driven food prices up by nearly 12 per cent, piling even more financial strain on everyday Australians. Central Queensland and Wide Bay have felt the brunt of antifarming policies of both state and federal Labor governments, including the introduction of vegetation and reef legislation laws that essentially took away farmers' and graziers' rights to manage their own land.

The 2.5 years of this Labor government has felt like a lifetime for the agriculture industry of Central Queensland and Wide Bay. Labor recently proposed a biosecurity tax for Australian farmers. This levy was proposed as a way to charge Australian farmers for the biosecurity costs of importers. That is probably one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, and that says a lot, considering that this is a proposal by the Labor government. Why would the Australian government tax their own farmers to pay for foreigners to bring products into this country? Ultimately, if the legislation had been passed, it would mean that farmers would be forced to pass on costs, which would meant families would have to spend more on fresh food produce. I'm proud of the Nationals, farmers and industry successfully, after months of campaigning, helping to scrap this tax, which was due to be implemented from 1 July 2024. Labor's fresh food tax would have hurt families at the checkout as well as 84 agricultural commodities which would have faced taxes to raise $150 million over three years.

Furthermore, we've seen this Labor government cut vital water infrastructure funding. The decision to slash funding to restore the Paradise Dam in the North Burnett and Bundaberg region was a kick in the guts not only to the Wide Bay area but to the agricultural industry as a whole. The Bundaberg area produces 25 per cent of Australia's fresh food, and hundreds of millions of dollars of agricultural investment has been put at risk due to the Labor government's inexcusable decision to slash the funding to restore this vital piece of water infrastructure. We're also seeing this Labor government approve wind and solar projects at the fastest rates in Australian history, and this is to the detriment of the agricultural industry. There are countless so-called renewable projects littering and occupying prime agricultural land, and it is a simple fact that you can't eat wind turbines or solar panels. We've seen successive governments send our manufacturing overseas to countries like China. Do they want to see us all eating our fruit and vegetables from China as well? Agriculture is one of the biggest industries, if not the biggest industry, in Central Queensland and the Wide Bay, and it must be supported by both state and federal governments and not hindered, so that it can remain sustainable for generations to come.

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