Category: Media Releases

Media

SRA Media Release – Adoption Group

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SRA welcomes Mr Matt Schembri and Mr Peter Verwey to Adoption Group

SRA has appointed new staff to its Adoption Group, marking another step forward in the delivery of the industry-led Adoption Strategy.
Mr Matt Schembri and Mr Peter Verwey have joined SRA as Adoption Officers, working in the Central and Burdekin regions respectively.
SRA Executive Manager, Regional Delivery, Mr Ian McBean, said that Matt and Peter would work closely with SRA adoption and research staff, growers, millers, and other service providers to help industry improve productivity, profitability and sustainability. The Adoption Group provides a vital conduit between research and growers and millers, assisting industry to adopt practices and technology that improve their bottom line.
Matt Schembri comes to the role from recent work with Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations in Central Queensland, working with farmers and graziers on Best Management Practice (BMP) programs and practice change. He is a former Research Engineer with the Sugar Research Institute and also has 10 years of experience growing sugarcane.
Peter Verwey comes to the role from work within agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin, in particular working with farmers on irrigation infrastructure system upgrades. He is experienced in agricultural extension through BMP programs such as the cotton industry’s myBMP. He has also worked in North and Central Queensland in previous roles.
“Matt and Peter offer valuable skills and knowledge for the Australian sugarcane industry,” Mr McBean said. “They are looking forward to working with the local industry in their regions and delivering outcomes for growers and millers.”
Mr McBean added that SRA was well-advanced in delivering the industry-wide strategy for adoption services.
“Our SRA Regional Coordinators have established regional adoption advisory committees in each of the six regions to formulate and discuss local priorities. We are also soon to have our first meeting of the Industry Adoption Advisory Committee. Through this industry consultation, we will resource adoption activities that best fit the requirements of the region.” read more

Media Release – Indonesian Trade Deal

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Indonesia deal a boost for Queensland agriculture

Queensland is in a prime position to capitalise on the signing of an Australia-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner welcomed today’s signing of the agreement, saying it will be a boon for exporters of Queensland agricultural products.
“By 2030, Indonesia is expected to be in the top five economies in the world, and its population of 270 million makes it one of our most promising export markets,” Mr Furner said.
“In 2017 Australia exported around $3.5 billion worth of agricultural goods to Indonesia. With this new Free Trade Agreement in place we would expect to see that total increase significantly.
“Our efforts to capitalise on those opportunities will mean more jobs in a stronger Queensland economy.”
Mr Furner said Queensland would be particularly advantaged by increased exports of live cattle, frozen beef and sheepmeat, sugar and dairy products.
“Under this Agreement, by 2020 almost everything we export to Indonesia will be either duty free or under improved preferential arrangements,” Mr Furner said.
“Indonesia will guarantee automatic issue of import permits for key products such as live cattle, frozen beef, sheep meat, feed grains, citrus products, carrots and potatoes.
“It will also benefit our grain growers, with Indonesia agreeing to import 500,000 tonnes of grain tariff free.”

Key FTA outcomes:
Live cattle: Duty free access for 575,000 head of live male cattle per year, growing at 4% per year to 700,000. A review mechanism in year 6 will consider subsequent increases.
Frozen beef and sheepmeat: Remaining tariffs on all Australian exports of frozen beef and sheepmeat into Indonesia reduced to 2.5% immediately and eliminated after 5 years.
Feed grains: Duty free access for 500,000 tonnes of feed grains per year (wheat, barley, sorghum), increasing at 5% per year.
Sugar: Cut the tariff on Australian sugar to 5% (from 8-12%).
Dairy: Eliminate 5% tariff for milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter. Elimination of 5% tariff for grated or powdered cheese.
Citrus:
Mandarins – Tariff cut to 10% (from 25%) for 7,500 tonnes per year; tariff further reduced over time, down to 0% after 20 years for an unlimited volume
Oranges – duty free access for 10,000 tonnes of oranges per year, increasing 5% each year
Lemons and limes – duty free access for 5,000 tonnes of lemons and limes per year, increasing 2.5% each year.
Potatoes: Tariff cut to 10% (from 25%) for 10,000 tonnes per year; after five years tariff further reduced to 5% for 12,500 tonnes per year, increasing by 2.5% per year.
Carrots: Tariff cut to 10% (from 25%) for 5,000 tonnes per year; tariff further reduced over time, down to 0% after 15 years for an unlimited volume.
Honey: Eliminate 5% tariff on Australian honey after 15 years. read more

QFF Welcomes Banking Royal Commission Recommendations

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QFF welcomes Banking Royal Commission recommendations

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to establish a National Farm Debt Mediation Scheme following recommendations made by the Banking Royal Commission released yesterday.
The government has also agreed to recommendations made by Royal Commissioner Justice Kenneth Hayne to have ‘specialised’ agricultural bankers manage distressed farm loans, prevent banks charging default interest during drought or natural disasters and only appoint receivers as a remedy of last resort.
QFF President Stuart Armitage said the government’s commitment to act on the recommendations made by the Royal Commission was a positive step in improving financial services for Queensland farmers.
“Following continued advocacy by QFF, the Queensland Government legislated to create a state Farm Debt Mediation Scheme, recognising the unequal playing field for farmers when negotiating with the big banks,” Mr Armitage said.
“Prior to this, QFF facilitated a voluntary debt mediation system – the Queensland Farm Finance Strategy – on a pro bono basis for 20 years. Legislating and properly resourcing a state arrangement was the logical step towards nationally consistent farm debt monitoring and mediation processes.”
“Bankers move around and modern farming businesses operate across state borders, so a nationally consistent approach to this issue that takes the best elements from each jurisdiction is likely to see a greater chance of fair and equitable outcomes being reached.”
“The requirement that banks not charge default interest on agricultural loans where a national disaster has been declared is timely as many farmers are dealing with drought across 58 per cent of the state and flooding rains in the north.”
In addition, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (ACFA) will now allow aggrieved farmers seek redress from the banks for incidents stretching back to 1 January 2008. Normally the right to seek redress would end after six years.
“Farmers have 12 months to lodge complaints seeking justice for incidents which occurred between 2008 and 2012. The maximum compensation farmers are able to be seek through ACFA is $2 million,” Mr Armitage said. read more

QFF – Media Release – Reef Alliance Project

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QFF – Media Release – Queensland Farmers Federation

Reef Alliance project delivers reef-wide results

Queensland farmers have continued to embrace practice change and make on-farm improvements to reduce and manage agriculture’s impact on the Great Barrier Reef through the Reef Alliance’s Growing a Great Barrier Reef project.

While farmers have often been viewed by some as scapegoats for the Reef’s problems, they have been proactively working to minimise soil loss, fertiliser application and pesticide runoff from farms to safeguard the future of the Reef.

With year two of the project now complete, the Reef Alliance has released its 2018 Impact Statement detailing the work done to advance on-farm understanding and fast track the implementation of innovative practices.

Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) CEO Travis Tobin said the second year of the project focused on improving the quality of water entering Great Barrier Reef and achieved real results.

“In the International Year of the Reef, more than 40 dedicated extension officers engaged with 1,332 landholders to deliver over 18,430 hours of one-on-one customised farm planning and personalised technical advice,” Mr Tobin said.

“As a result, 206,570 hectares of farmland throughout Queensland’s Reef catchments have demonstrated practice change to safeguard the future of the Reef.”

“While the continued implementation of a single database to manage practice change and extension information across five Reef catchments allows the Alliance to chart a ‘reef-wide story’.”

“Farmers excelling in their roles as environmental stewards, extension officers and community members that contribute to better water quality outcomes were recently recognised by the 2018 Reef Champion Awards.”

“Innovative nitrogen reduction practices, dedicated approaches to extension, revegetation of farms and conservation of wetlands and riparian areas are just some of the success stories of the agricultural sector working to protect the Reef.”

“These important actions are making huge improvements to the quality of the water leaving the farm and significantly contributing to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.” read more

MEDIA RELEASE – Sugar Code of Conduct Stays

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Media Release – The Hon. David Littleproud MP
Sugar Code of Conduct Stays

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud
Member for Dawson, George Christensen
Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry
Member for Flynn, Ken O’Dowd
________________________________________
12 December 2018
• The government has released response to review of the Sugar Code of Conduct.
• The code will be retained to provide certainty for the sugar industry.
• The review included 60 written submissions, in addition to face-to-face meetings.
The Sugar Code of Conduct will be extended a further four years to provide certainty for the Australian sugar industry.
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud today joined Member for Dawson George Christensen to make the announcement following the extensive review, which included sixty written submissions.
“The code came about to give sugar cane growers, millers and marketers certainty to just get on with the job and I’m happy to say it’s here to stay,” Mr Christensen said.
“Queensland is the powerhouse of the Australian sugar industry and produces 95 per cent of all sugar. If the sugar industry is strong Queensland is strong.
“I want to thank the Queensland LNP for their assistance in protecting the interests of cane growers.”
Minister Littleproud said the government held public consultations across key sugar growing regions in Queensland and Northern NSW.
Minister Littleproud said he brought forward the review, which was due to commence in October 2018, to July this year following the industry’s requests for certainty.
“This now provides certainty,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Public consultations were held in Gordonvale, Innisfail, Ingham, Ayr, Mackay, Bundaberg and Broadwater and with key stakeholders to make sure a range of views were heard.
“I acknowledge the sugar industry’s recent efforts in improving cooperation. I look forward to industry continuing to work together on the recommendation to develop a strategy to address the shared future challenges facing the industry.”
Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry welcomed the move to keep the code in place.
“This will be welcome news in Mackay, where 47 percent of the region is devoted to growing sugar cane, contributing over $460 million to the economy,” Ms Landry said.
Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd said this was welcome news for one of the key pillars of agriculture across rural and regional Queensland.
“Australia is the third largest sugar exporter in the world and we must remain strong and viable,” Mr O’Dowd said.
Fast Facts:
• The review included sixty written submissions and face to face meetings with key stakeholders.
• The code sets out a strict process for pre-contract arbitration when growers, millers or marketers fail to agree to terms of contracts or agreements with each other.
• The code will be amended to make it clear that pre-contractual arbitration only applies to raw sugar and not to any other products from sugar cane.
• This code is secure and any changes to it in the future will be subject to a disallowance process. Any attempts to repeal it would be subject to parliamentary oversight.
• The provision that allows growers to choose their marketer will remain.
• A further review of the code will be undertaken in four years’ time to assess whether the code is still needed.
• The review will consider recommendations made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in regards to penalties and investigative powers at the next review to determine if further ACCC involvement is needed. read more