2020 State Election Campaign
Support local and regionally based approaches to more productive land management, water and biodiversity
WHAT WE SEEK:
a. Increased and sustained funding for the Natural Resources Investment Program (or similar) over four years to support the sustainable management of natural land and water resources.
b. Increased and sustained funding for the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative for ongoing management of invasive plant and animals in effected regions.
c. $4 million additional funding per annum over four years to support the vital work of the Northern Gulf Regional Management Group and Southern Gulf NRM in supporting resilient, sustainable and profitable land management practices.
d. Increased and sustained funding for the successful Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program to continue to care for land and sea country, provide jobs and training and engage future generations.
“Landcare and NRM can generate an economic return in the order of 2-5 times the original investment. The scale of the economic return is also important, with Landcare contributing to individuals as well as regions (including Indigenous communities).”
HOW THIS WILL HELP THE NORTH WEST AND QUEENSLAND RECOVER:
Good land care and natural resource management is vital to Australia’s global agricultural competitiveness. In the North West, we invest considerable funding from our own budgets to ensure the region’s productive industries can co-exist and prosper alongside our unique and sensitive landscapes.
In 2018-19, the gross value of agricultural production in Queensland was $12.9 billion, with approximately 300,000 Queenslanders employed across the whole food supply chain.*
Both the Australian and State Government have acknowledged that the agriculture sector will be critical to the nation’s economic recovery post-COVID-19. Investing in Landcare initiatives, our NRM bodies and programs such as the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program is one way to support Queensland’s agriculture industry, drive productivity and provide meaningful work in our North West Queensland region.
*. ABS 2020b, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2018-19, cat. no. 7503.0 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.