Nov 20, 2017 - The LNP were rated higher at 3 stars due to their commitment to a ... whole-of-government approach to tel
AGFORCE QUEENSLAND FARMERS
ELECTION SCORECARD Political Party
Supporting our Rural Families
Healthy Environments - Protecting our land Growing agriculture & enhancing profitability & water
Connecting Queensland
EXPLANATORY NOTES Major parties were formally invited to respond to the AgForce 2017 Election Priorities. The AgForce scorecard is based on available public policy statements from political parties as at 20 November 2017 and/or specific responses to AgForce. Where parties have not released an agricultural policy or have not specifically responded to the AgForce’s priorities, points are not awarded. The 5 star scoring regime was an internal AgForce process, which included criteria such as an understanding of responses to the AgForce priorities, capacity to deliver and the party’s broader policy positions.
‘THRIVING FARMS, THRIVING QUEENSLAND’ ELECTION SCORECARD SUMMARY Supporting Our Rural Families
Growing agriculture and enhancing profitability
While Labor made no real new commitments, in their agriculture policy, Labor pledged to maintain drought funding and review arrangements, continue the Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance, primary producer loan schemes and stamp duty exemption.
Labor’s rating is based on the fact that while they would ban high value ag permits and are overseeing firearms licensing problems, they did commit to some of what AgForce sought with wild dog fencing funding and they supported chickpea research.
LNP 3 stars, One Nation 2 ½ stars , KAP 2 stars, Labor 2 ½ stars, Greens 1 star
The LNP were rated higher at 3 stars due to their commitment to a ‘Farmers for the Future’ program, a better approach to drought policy and because they were the only party to commit to a quad bike safety rebate program sought by AgForce. One Nation responded that they would seek more information from Treasury on duty exemptions, fund SIPP for a four year period, continue drought relief measures and promote on-farm water security but rejected our call for quad bike safety rebates. KAP received 2 stars as their main commitment in this area is for a Rural Development Bank and multi-peril insurance research while they failed to respond to AgForce’s formal request.
Healthy Environments – Protecting our land and water
LNP 3 ½ stars, One Nation 3 stars, KAP 2 ½ stars, Labor 1 ½ stars, Greens 2 stars Labor received a low rating for their plans to re-introduce flawed vegetation management laws, although a Land Restoration Fund may deliver some benefits. The LNP received a higher rating based on their commitment to maintain vegetation management laws, not introduce wild rivers laws, improve pest and weed funding, and boost biosecurity. One Nation’s rating was based on their regrowth policy and formal response in support for most of the initiatives, including Nature Refuges, protecting ag land, more biosecurity funding, and stock route reform. KAP provided no written response, but were rated at 2 ½ stars based on their past strong vegetation management stance. The Greens rating of 2 stars was based on the fact that while they want to impose additional vegetation, reef and wild rivers regulations, they have detailed policy around water and ag land protections.
LNP 3 ½ stars, One Nation 3 ½ stars, KAP 3 ½ stars, Labor 2 stars, Greens ½ star
The LNP, KAP and One Nation all had strong agricultural growth agendas, with support for high value agriculture, new water access and infrastructure, wild dog control and firearms for primary producers. The Greens have very little to help agriculture grow, mainly including growth detracting stances, apart from supporting increased funding for research and development.
Connecting Queensland
LNP 3 stars, One Nation 2 ½ stars, KAP 2 ½ stars, Labor 2 stars, Greens 1 star The Labor rating is based on their commitment towards funding the Bruce Highway and Works for Queensland regional fund, while the LNP’s rating was based on specific commitments to fund regional roads, bridges and telecommunications infrastructure. The KAP had some good initiatives for their electorates and local government grants, but not enough of a statewide focus to provide sufficient benefits for all AgForce members. One Nation presented a whole-of-government approach to telecommunications and working with local government on roads, but lacked detail.
