Collaboration brings about a national strategy to support growers

BY DAN GALLIGAN, CEO, CANEGROWERS

No doubt about it – its grand final time. Whatever your code and whatever your passion this time of year either sees you checking out in despair at your team’s performance or being at fever pitch looking for what can be a rare premiership.

Not many people would put politics up their as their “code” but there are connotations of tribalism and sometimes even teams within the political parties. However it cannot be denied, elections really are the grand final moment for political parties. For the majors, the minors and the independents it is their opportunity to shine and gain important power and leverage in parliament, although unlike sporting teams, they only get this chance every four years.

Elections should be a competition of ideas, policies and priorities. It's tricky in Queensland with a unicameral parliamentary system it is pretty much “winner takes all” with the concept of sitting in opposition being pretty daunting. The stakes are high for the LNP, Labor, Katter and Greens as they try and strike a balance that reflects the priorities of the regions and the cities at the same time.

State election campaigns in Queensland are absolutely pivotal from an agricultural perspective policies, programs and priorities of state government can impact significantly on the future prospects of farmers.

From investment in research and development, biosecurity, regional planning, water and electricity prices, environmental regulations and investments and state priorities on renewable energy and fuels. The State Government literally has the hands on the levers that can either enable or inhibit the future profitability of farmers. Far more directly than a federal government can.

The work of relationship building, advocacy and influence that CANEGROWERS has been undertaking in order to have impact on political parties has been ongoing literally since the last election.

But it is grand final time.

Now is the chance for us to run the ruler over the political parties and see who can express a vision and plan for Queensland agriculture. As much as anything it is a time for us to determine who of our political leaders has been listening to us over the last four years and to assess whether they can actually deliver on our plans and specific actions.

Regional communities and in particular farmers are absolutely tuned in to this election. Local, regional candidates have to work exceedingly hard to not only get around their electorates but deliver.

CANEGROWERS has put together a very specific but positive election platform. We have made sure they know about its content, our priorities and it is now up to them to commit to it.

The pathway for success is actually pretty simple, politicians should look at what the industry is saying, take note, listen and take on board our concerns as they have been crafted from the ground up. These are the issues growers care about.

Just as the work of advocacy started four years ago, CANEGROWERS is already primed to work with an incoming government to make sure they deliver for our industry.