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Category: Industry Information
Miscellaneous information
Media Statement – Queensland Farm Debt Restructure Office opens
Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Queensland Farm Debt Restructure Office opens
The Palaszczuk Government has established a dedicated office to assist Queensland primary producers experiencing financial distress access free expert financial analysis and advice.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Farm Debt Restructure Office was the Government’s latest initiative in the ongoing commitment to the agricultural sector and the issue of rural debt delivering a number of protections for Queensland farmers.
“The Office provides eligible primary producers with a no-fee, no-obligation assessment of their business and financial position, to help them make informed decisions on the future of their agricultural enterprise,” she said.
“The Office will be overseen by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority and it will work with the Authority’s network of nine offices, including the office here in Roma.”
“My Government is working to grow our primary industries sector. It’s a vital contributor to our economy and the backbone for rural and regional Queensland. I welcome the recent AgTrends forecast for the total value of Queensland’s primary industry commodities for 2017-18 to be almost $20 billion -$19.87 billion.”
Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner said the assistance doesn’t replace a producer’s existing financial providers or advisors, but complements them by offering an alternate opinion.
“Farm Business Analysis Assistance offers eligible farmers with detailed, expert options from an approved rural finance professionals at a level that the producer may not be able to afford at their time of distress,” he said.
“The report which follows an on-farm visit will give realistic options and ideas on how to repair, reduce or rationalise farming activities within the available resources, for the best possible outcome for the farmer and their family.”
The initiatives were part of the Farm Business Debt Mediation Act 2017 passed by the Queensland Parliament last year and include the now mandatory Farm Business Debt Mediation introduced to prevent foreclosure on farm debt without a fair and equitable mediation process.
KCGO MEMBERS – Quad Bike Safety Information
Quad Bike Safety Information
“A very sobering story and highlights the need for the proper PPE and training not only for our children but also farm employees.”
New Safety Advocates join the campaign for quad bike safety
In 2018, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland welcomes two new Safety Advocates, Jodie and Mario Cocco, who are passionate about quad bike safety, especially where children are involved.
Their son Domenic was just seven years old when he suffered life-threatening injuries after crashing a quad bike into a power pole. We published a film about the incident in 2016, with Jodie and Mario describing the horrifying experience and the impact it had on their family. The next logical step for the Coccos was to start telling their story personally in workplaces as Safety Advocates.
“You think it’s not going to happen to you, but it can. Make sure your kids have got the right protective equipment on, make sure they’re wearing a helmet, and make sure they know how to operate the quad bike properly,” Jodie says.
In their role as Safety Advocates, Jodie and Mario will focus on quad bike safety with a special emphasis on children using these machines. They highlight how important it is to always wear a helmet when riding, as well as the benefits of formal training.
The film, Too fast, too soon – Domenic’s story, has been viewed over 4000 times and is a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong and the serious consequences that follow.
Since it began in 2013, our Safety Advocate program has gone from strength to strength. Last year our Safety Advocates between them spoke to Queensland workers and communities at more than 100 events. Feedback on their visits is incredibly positive – a clear indication that sharing their stories is having a profound impact on Queenslanders and prompting them to think about the importance of working safely.
Further information
For more information on the Coccos’story, go to worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-advocates or request a Safety Advocate visit to your business.
JOIN RP 161 FOR 2018 – FARMACIST
NQ Dry Tropics – Reef Trust Tender Workshop
NQ Dry Tropices – Reef Trust Tender Round 3 Workshop
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Affordable Energy Plan
“The Queensland Government has introduced a range of initiatives in 2018 in order to relieve the burden of electricity costs on consumers. Summary of actions and incentives has been extracted below.
Queensland Government
Affordable Energy Plan: making electricity more affordable
We are committed to delivering stable electricity prices for all Queenslanders.
The Affordable Energy Plan features $300 million of initiatives from 1 January 2018 which will make electricity more affordable for residential and business customers.
Under the plan, electricity prices for typical household and small business customers will remain below inflation on average over the next 2 years.
Our actions in more detail
Under the Affordable Energy Plan we will:
- commit to keeping electricity prices below inflation on average for typical household and small business customers over the next 2 years
- deliver a $50 per year electricity rebate to all Queensland households over the next 2 years ($200 million over 2 years)
- introduce the Easy Pay Reward: a rebate for regional households ($75) and small businesses ($120) that register for direct debit and monthly eBilling ($15 million over 3 years)
- provide an energy efficient appliance rebate to help households to buy more energy efficient appliances
- offer no interest loans and rebates for Queenslanders purchasing rooftop solar and battery systems ($21 million over 3 years)
- remove solar barriers for renters ($4 million over 3 years)
- expand the Energy Savvy Families initiative to provide more low income families with access to monthly billing, digital metering and education programs ($4 million over 3 years)
- deliver the Business Energy Savers Program for agricultural customers and large business customers ($20 million over 3 years)
- remove the non-reversion policy for small customers in regional Queensland ($15 million over three years).
Kalamia Members – Survey – Energy costs for irrigation
Survey – Energy costs for irrigation
“The National Irrigators’ Council, on behalf of the Agriculture Industries Energy Taskforce group, is conducting a survey in order to inform up-to-date advice to empower irrigators to reduce their energy costs for irrigation. For any growers that wish to participate in this survey please find link below.
KALAMIA MEMBERS NOTICE – Reminder
Reminder to Members – Office Closure Times
BPS Newsletter
SRA – Media Release
SRA Media Release
SRA opens new initiative for sugarcane milling research
Sugar Research Australia (SRA) has announced a new research investment scheme that will work with the milling sector to deliver productivity, profitability, and sustainability outcomes, ultimately benefiting both sugarcane millers and growers.
Called the Small Milling Research Project (SMRP) investment scheme, it will see SRA invest in small projects to develop a product, service, or process that will solve targeted problems in sugar mills and deliver tangible outputs with almost immediate outcomes.
Applications are open from now until 28 February 2018, with applicants able to apply for up to $75,000 for their project.
This initiative has come in direct response to feedback from our milling investors and stakeholders, and in particular during the development of our SRA Strategic Plan 2017/18 “ 2021/22, SRA CEO, Mr Neil Fisher, said.
The SRA Board has approved this initiative to allow SRA to work on priority areas of research that align with the needs of our milling investors. The investment is included in our current total investment in our Key Focus Area (KFA) of Milling Efficiency and Technology.
Mr Fisher said that the initiative was an opportunity to invest in lower-cost, short-term, industry-identified and preferably industry-led research.
In the process, the scheme will strengthen collaborations between industry and research through the direct involvement of the milling sector in SMRPs and increase research skills and capability in sugar mills, he said.
SRA is now calling for applications for this new initiative. We encourage researchers to collaborate with industry to put forward their best ideas for new projects.
For more information, visit the SRA website at https://sugarresearch.com.au/research-investment/small-milling-research-project-initiative/.