Labor’s anti-farming laws, that make it harder for farmers to feed their cattle and sheep during drought, could be scrapped in State Parliament this week as the LNP continues to stand up for the bush.
Local MP Stephen Bennett will be supporting a move by Shadow Minister for Natural Resource Management Dale Last, who will move a disallowance motion to block the introduction of regulations that limit Queensland farmers’ ability to feed their livestock in drought.
“With the lack of rainfall biting hard throughout regional Queensland, we are listening to those hurting most from this devastating and prolonged drought and we are taking action,” Mr Bennett said.
“In drought affected parts of western Queensland, farmers use Mulga as a last resort source of feed for their hungry livestock.
“Mulga is found in vast quantities throughout Queensland. It’s designed to survive in the outback and grows back quickly after sheep and cattle use them for feed.
“This plant is a lifeline backstop in outback Queensland farmers and we need to make sure they maintain access to Mulga trees for emergency fodder.
“Labor’s anti-farming laws make this process more difficult and is putting the welfare of our Queensland cattle and sheep in jeopardy”, Mr Bennett said.
“In the midst of this drought, the Palaszczuk Government has a role to play in getting out of the way and letting our farmers do what they do best – survive these droughts by being the efficient and effective professionals they are”.
Mr Bennett will be speaking himself today in an adjournment debate to call on Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner to urgently reactivate the Drought Committee for the Bundaberg region.
“We’re in the middle of our own dry disaster, and growers desperately need access to the electricity tariff relief that has kept them viable over the last drought declaration.
“I’m calling on the Minister to take action now and extend the drought declaration for Bundaberg so Ergon can support farmers to pump life-saving water for their crops.
22-08-18