AgConnect Read More 

The Callide Dawson Chamber of Commerce held their inaugural Ag Connect today and it was a great pleasure to have the Honourable Tony Perret MP , Member for Gympie and QLD Minister for Primary Industries.

Tony is not only a great Minister but also operates a grazing enterprise close to Kilkivan with a few thousand head of cattle of his own- so he understands the issues facing farmers and graziers.

He’s a busy man having just returned from a trade mission to Japan and Korea, promoting QLD produce.

Our local member Bryson Head and Federal Member Colin Boyce were also in attendance as well as Banana Shire Mayor- Nev Ferrier, we also welcomed 32 community members to engage.

Some of the questions asked were:

1. It was an election commitment to strengthen Queensland’s biosecurity frontline with 100 additional staff at regional DPI locations. Will Biloela benefit from this commitment, and what could this look like in the Callide region?

2.What progress is being made on the biological control of Harissa Cactus and Giant Rats Tail Grass.

3. What is the State Government doing to develop new trade partnerships for Queensland agricultural commodities, including beef and other commodities grown in the Callide- such as herbs, pork, grains

4. What is being done to ensure prime agricultural land is protected from industrial-scale renewable energy projects?

5. How will the State Government address the placement of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) on some of the state's most productive agricultural land, such as in the Callide and Darling/Western Downs regions?

6. Will the State Government consider making this water permanently available at the end of the current lease term to allow for long-term agricultural investment?

Tony gave a great overview of where the current state government see agriculture and ran through priorities for his department including bio security, reviewing state zoning laws to protect agricultural land, water allocations and trade partnerships for QLD’s agricultural commodities.