2019 April 4 Rural etc

COMMUNITY NEWS

Stolen Vehicle, Babinda:

vestigating a break and enter to a Coronation

ing items from a Clair Street business, without

Police are investigating a break and enter

Drive address on Monday night.

attempting to pay for the items.

that occurred at a Angus Street address overnight.

Between 9pm Monday and 3:30am Tuesday morning entry was made to the Agnus Street

She was charged with two counts of stealing

day morning entry was made to the house and a

and one count of unauthorised dealing of shop

handbag was removed and a grey 2010 Toyota

goods.

address and the car keys, wallet, tobacco and

Found Gold watch, Kurrimine Beach:

tools were stolen along with a white 1993 Toy-

The pictured watch was found within the

ota Camry.

aged to contact police link on 131 444 and

Between 9pm Monday night and 5am Tues-

Rav4 was stolen from the address.

Kurrimine Beach area in early December .

She is scheduled to appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on May 13.

Assault Charge, Innisfail: A 45-year-old Innisfail man was charged with one count each of trespassing, committing a public nuisance

Anyone with any information are encour-

and assault on Wednesday.

aged to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime

He has attempted to enter an Ernest Street

stoppers 1300 333 000 and quote reference number QP1900651043

premises around 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Break and enter, Coconuts: Three youths

It will be alleged the man is banned from entering the premises and when he was asked

fled from a Bay road address Monday night.

The youths had gained entry to the Bay

to leave he has verbally abused the staff and has

Road address, around 11:30pm, but were dis-

attempted to assault a staff member narrowly

turbed and fled without stealing any property.

missing their face.

He is due to appear at the Innisfail Magis-

Anyone with any information are encour-

trates Court on April 15.

aged to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime number QP1900650640.

an Owen Street business in relation to a distur-

Failed to dispose of syringes, Innisfail:

bance where a 43-year-old Goondi Hill man

Around 2.45pm Tuesday afternoon police lo-

was allegedly abusing customers and staff in-

cated two people sitting in a McGowan drive undercover carpark area.

It will be alleged they were in possession of used syringes and a quantity of cannabis.

A 56-year-old woman local woman was charged with fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.

A 46-year-old local man was charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.

The pair are scheduled to appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on April 15.

Break and enter, Innisfail: Police are in-

Proof of ownership will be required.

This could be in the form of photographic evidence.

Found property, Innisfail Estate: The pictured property was located around 8.30pm on January 23 outside the front of a Flying Fish Point Road address.

If you can identify any of these items, proof of ownership will be required.

Stealing charges, Innisfail: A 24-year-old Innisfail woman was charged with a number of stealing offences on Wednesday afternoon.

It will be alleged around 1.30pm the woman has removed a number of household and cloth-

quote reference number QP1900595997.

Hefty fine for provisional licence holder: A 18-year-old Mission Beach woman was issued with a $261 infringement notice on March 25.

It will be alleged she was unable to produce her provisional drivers licence to police after she was intercepted on Bryant Street, Tully around 6.20pm.

It is a timely reminder to all provisional drivers to ensure they comply with the requirements of their licence.

Once you have your provisional licence, you must: •

Display ‘P’ plates on your vehicle;

•

Only drive vehicles allowed on your

licence class;

Public Nuisance, Innisfail: Police attended

stoppers 1300 333 000 and quote reference

Anyone with any information are encour-

side the business.

Police arrested and transported him to the Innisfail watch house where he was charged with committing a public nuisance.

He is required to appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on April 15.

Wilful damage, Innisfail: Police are investigating the theft and damage of property at a business on Ernest Street.

•

Have your licence with you and show

it to police when asked; •

Comply with licence conditions, for

example, if you have an ‘S’ condition on your licence you must drive with corrective lenses; and •

Obey the zero alcohol limit.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered

Between 6.30pm on Tuesday March 24

charity and community volunteer organisation,

and 9am on Wednesday March 25 the front

by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestopper-

glass door to the business was smashed and

sqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

pot plants that were at the front of the business were damaged and one was stolen.

Quote

these

reference

numbers:

QP1900602059, QP1802255726

Fatal Traffic Crash Tully

ON March 30, Police reported a single vehicle crash near Tully in which three people lost their lives. A fourth man, trapped inside the vehicle, initialy survived and was air-lifted to Townsville Hospital with critical injuries, but later reports said he passed away on the

night of April 2.

Shortly after 1pm on March 30, a passing motorist observed a semi-submerged vehicle upside down in the river near Bridge 15, Tully Gorge Road, approximately 30kms west of Tully. Emergen-

cy services reported to the scene and investigations by the Cairns Forensic Crash Unit followed. The Cairns Forensic Crash Unit continues to investigate the scene.

Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, April 4, 2019 Page 9

RURAL REPORT ‘Next Crop’ program off and running to develop industry leadership

A diverse range of sugarcane growers from across the industry are now taking part in the Next Crop program to hone their leadership skills and potential.

Next Crop is a new investment

by SRA in industry leadership and capability, and it is spanning across several months in 2019, with participants undertaking a range of leadership and development activities.

The need for this program was identified during industry consultation for SRA’s five-year strategic plan.

“The future of our industry relies on ensuring we continue to

develop and encourage new leaders to participate, collaborate, and have their voices heard. Next Crop is increasing the pool of people who can contribute to our industry through leadership roles in industry representative bodies, productivity service boards, NRM groups, local government, and SRA,” SRA CEO Mr Neil Fisher said.

This year’s participants are Aaron Moore (Atherton Tableland), Tony Bartolo (Mackay), Chris Lyne (Burdekin), Ben Spann (Rocky Point), Kevin Stevens (Brisbane), Michael Giudice (Mossman), Leyton Peterson (Hervey Bay), Rhonda Pirrone

(Burdekin) and Michael Cavallaro (Bundaberg).

Burdekin grower Chris Lyne said he looked forward to taking part in the program.

“The future of the sugar industry depends on strong leadership at a range of levels, and this program is an opportunity to develop these critical skills,” Mr Lyne said. “It is a chance to learn with other growers from across the industry and bring our new skills back to our respective regions.”

To learn more, visit www.nextcropleaders.com

Government response takes hunters for granted QUEENSLAND’S sport shooting fraternity has been ignored by the State Government after they arrogantly rejected a petition calling for a trial of conservation hunting in State Forests.

Started by Brisbane man Daniel Boniface and sponsored by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, the petition amassed more than 13,500 signatures before it was tabled in parliament in February.

But in her response to the petition on March 27, State Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the government “does not support recreational hunting in State forests and has no plans to open these areas for hunting as it is inconsistent with long standing management arrangements for State forests in Queensland”.

“The Department of Environment and Science, through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P), has a duty of care to protect State forests and to ensure the safety of tourists and visitors to these lands,” Ms Enoch wrote.

Mr Dametto said Ms Enoch’s response ignored the “overwhelming

success of similar hunting schemes in New South Wales and Victoria”.

“For the minister to completely write off more than 13,500 signatories to this petition without even in engaging in a consultation process is short-sighted. Recreational hunters are quite a strong voice in Queensland and it is politically dangerous of her to have dismissed them,” he said.

“To reject this proposal under the guise of safety is quite frankly, the easy option. The minister is not acknowledging that there is a significant issue when it comes to pest management in these areas.

“The “lock it up and leave it” approach to State Forests taken by government has allowed feral animals to explode in population, wreaking havoc on the environment and our native wildlife. Allowing licensed hunters in to these areas on a significant scale would be an excellent solution to this problem.

“Ask any landowner who has property neighbouring a State Forest and they will tell you the government is their worst neighbour, whether it’s overgrown vegetation posing a fire risk or the spread of fe-

ral animals that ruin crops.”

In her response, Ms Enoch also mentioned Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships collaboration with the Sport Shooters’ Association of Australia’s (SSAA’s) Conservation and Wildlife Management Queensland division, which conducts pest animal management activities on properties owned by governments, private landowners and conservation groups.

But Mr Dametto said the petition was not trying to take away from the SSAA’s existing pest management program “that has achieved so much for sport shooters”.

“My support for the proposal in this petition has come out of a genuine calling from sport shooters from all walks of life,” he said.

“What we could be looking at is an opportunity for the SSAA to build on their existing program.”

Mr Dametto said the economic and tourism benefits of hunting in State Forests represented a “golden economic opportunity” for small towns throughout Queensland that the government was ignoring.

Page 16 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, April 4, 2019

Petition to register farmer anger at regulation FARM groups have launched an online petition against the Queensland Government’s tightening of regulations on agriculture in Great Barrier Reef catchments.

“Farmers take their environmental responsibilities seriously,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri said. “But the raft of provisions in the Bill that’s before parliament dismisses all of the voluntary and valuable work for improved reef water quality underway across Queensland’s agricultural industries.

“The #RejectTheRegs petition will give farmers, their communities and everyone who supports agriculture a vital voice because the Queensland Government is refusing to hear us.

“The Parliamentary Committee’s review of the Bill has not taken the opportunity to listen to anyone outside of Brisbane – it has not travelled beyond Parliament House.

“I urge every cane grower, every farmer, in Queensland to sign this petition and encourage your family and everyone you know to sign it also.”

The impact of Environmental Protec-

tion (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill will be far-reaching.

“If passed, the government will have the big brother power to demand data on farm business transactions and any advice given to farmers,” Mr Schembri said. “We don’t need this sort of interference in the day to day decisions of Queensland farms and regional businesses.

“We already work under a raft of rules and regulations and passing this Bill will leave us at risk of the regulatory goal posts being shifted in any way at any time with no regard to the impact of the changes or any mechanism for review and appeal.

“This is an unacceptable way to treat a valuable Queensland industry and we will make sure our voices are heard.”

The petition can be signed here https://farmers.org.au/campaign/rejecttheregs/

Labor locks up the North with new laws HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has pummelled Labor for once again ramming through legislation that will put even more restrictions on landholders in North Queensland.

The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MP is seething after the State Government used its numbers to pass the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 on Wednesday.

The legislation creates a new category of protected area – Special Wildlife Reserves – for privately-owned or managed land, to protect land of “outstanding conservation value”.

In a speech given to parliament during debate on the Bill, Mr Dametto said landholders were being strangled by increasing overregulation.

“The biggest problem with this legislation is that it locks up land that would have been productive to landowners. Those people have purchased this land and, all of a sudden, what they can do with it is going to change,” he said.

“We are at a time where, if people are involved in

agriculture, or if they are graziers, or if they are out there trying to earn a dollar off the land, it is very hard for them.

“Every day we see more and more legislation introduced into this House that is going to make it very hard for farmers who are trying to turn a dollar in this state. This is another piece of legislation that will do that.”

Mr Dametto said the new legislation would make it difficult for farmers who “may want to pass on this property to their sons or daughters or even potentially sell it to someone one day”.

“Once this legislation is enacted, these special wildlife reserves are going to be very hard to revoke,” he said.

“Another concern about these special wildlife reserves is how they are going to be managed.

Where is the money going to come from for that?

There has not been a lot of clarity on that, which worries some landholders and some of my constituents.

“Other concerns we have with the bill relate to the amount of power that will be given to the minister to make decisions on

what happens with this land.”

Transhipping will also be impacted by the new laws, with KAP State leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter highlighting areas of the Gulf that will be stifled.

“Transhipping in these areas will not impact the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Dametto said. “It is of grave concern that these areas will be affected and will not be able to utilise their resources and ship goods in and out effectively.”

With the passing of Labor’s destructive vegetation management legislation last year and their farm-hindering Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 currently before parliament, Mr Dametto said the government was intent on “destroying agriculture in Queensland”.

“This latest legislation is simply a blatant land grab by Labor under the excuse of so-called environmental protection,” he said.

“North Queensland deserves better from this government.”

RURAL REPORT

Joyce feeds dairy farmers to the sharks OFF the back of his most recent visit to the dairying areas of the Atherton Tablelands, KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has again lashed out at the Member for New England for failing the industry, failing farmers and failing Australia when he voted against a minimum price for milk at the last Parliamentary sitting.

The fallout from several showdowns in the Chamber continues to reverberate around rural areas and in particular, with dairy farmers who are livid that the Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, voted down a motion to suspend standing orders introduced by the ALP that would recognise “Government intervention is

needed to save our dairy sector and our dairy farmers; and therefore, calls on the Government to task the ACCC with testing the efficacy of a minimum farm gate milk price and to make recommendations on the best design options.”

Mr Katter said once he had recovered from his initial shock that the ALP, who are largely pro-free-trade, made a positive move for protecting the dairy industry, he was equally as shocked when the National Party took a strong stance against it citing international free trade.

“It is deeply, deeply disappointing that Mr Joyce voted against a fair price for our dairy farmers,” Mr Katter said.

“The ALP, because of the situation in three marginal elec-

torates, moved for a minimum price scheme for dairy farmers. I listened to each of the National Party members stand up and say ‘we can’t have minimum price because this would be seen by our free trade treaty partners as breaches of our free trade agreements’. In other words, farmers must accept getting the lowest prices in the world for their products, competing against all the rest of the world’s farmers who get 41 per cent of their income from the Government.”

Mr Katter said that when the Federal LNP enforced National Competition Policy and the state governments would not stand up against the LNP deregulation, it meant that one of the biggest dairy farming areas in

Australia, the Atherton Tablelands, was ripped to shreds.

“The day before deregulation, our farmers were on 59c a litre. The day after, we were on 41c a litre. In fact this very day (today) dairy farmers are on less money on the fresh milk market than they were in the year 2000 when deregulated.

58c a litre is considered a reasonable price for milk in terms of today’s money; that is nearly 90 c a litre.”

“I have always defended Mr Joyce and I have always felt he was on the farmers side. I urged him to stay on through his family traumas, both in private and publicly, but whilst he may have done nothing for us while he was in there, at least he had the one true faith; that

the Country Party was actually formed to deliver arbitration; a minimum price in the dairy, wheat and grain industries.

“Now it (the Nationals), and he (Joyce) stands for the exact opposite position - let the merchants carve us up and feed us to the sharks,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said that the arguments put forward by Joyce, the National Party and the Liberals that Australia will breach their free trade treaties are weak and that the same arguments were thrown up against Jack McEwan in the 1930s against Doug Anthony, but he introduced the wool minimum price scheme.

“That argument is always there, and always will be. It doesn’t worry any of our trade competitors. The Brazilians

introduced ethanol at a 23 per cent cross subsidy for their sugar farmers, did they lose a single trade deal? No. “And when the Liberal’s John Howard reversed the decision by Nationals leader John Anderson on bananas, the Philippines squealed for two weeks and as Robert Mackay, the banana king told John Howard, ‘in the end they will buy Australian milk and Australian beef. You can have all the treaties in the world but you have got the better and cheaper product - you will do the deal. And he was dead right.

“Would it be that he was running the National Party and not Joyce or that bloke whose name I can’t remember, things would be a whole lot different.”

Labor backs banana growers, but threats to agriculture remain THE Palaszczuk Government has backed Queensland’s banana industry with an almost $12.1 million boost over five years to the fight against Panama TR4 disease.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said a recent independent review of the Panama TR4 Program confirmed the importance of tackling the disease in partnership

with industry.

“The review stated that the program should continue but must be based on shared responsibility between government and industry,” Mr Furner said.

“For almost four years, we have been very successful in containing the disease to just three adjoining farms. A major factor in that success has been the joint approach taken by

government, industry, growers, and other key stakeholders.

“Biosecurity Queensland is establishing a working group with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council to progress the development of a first-ofits-kind partnership agreement to fund, deliver, design and govern the Panama TR4 Program in Queensland.

Mr Furner said the agree-

ment will give industry an opportunity to shape its future.

“By having a seat at the table, industry can share the decisions on how Panama TR4 is contained and controlled in Far North Queensland,” he said.

Mr Furner said while the Palaszczuk Government was getting on with the job of protecting the banana industry, he was deeply concerned about

Federal Governments cuts to biosecurity.

“Queensland is on the front line of biosecurity defence with more biosecurity risks than any other state,” he said.

“Our agricultural industries rely on this defence to make sure our farmers can take on the best in the world.

“This LNP Federal Government claims to be strong on border security but cut 25 per

cent of biosecurity staff and put our agricultural industries at risk.

“The Federal Government needs to make sure Queensland gets its fair share of biosecurity funding in tonight’s budget so we can continue to keep our farm industries growing.

SPORT

Innisfail Leprechauns two point win against reigning premiers Mossman Sharks MARIA GIRGENTI AFTER being down by 22-6 at half time Innisfail Leprechauns A-grade side made a late surge in the second half in wet and greasy conditions at Callendar Park against Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks and were lucky to escape with a two-point win against the reigning premiers in the opening round of the CDRL season.

The Sharks posted first points through Demilio Denman followed by tries to Matthew Gibuma and Stanley Anau while Mareko Daniel scored in the dying minutes of the first half.

Mossman dominated possession in the first half and the only salvation for Innisfail was a converted try by Aaron Jolley late in the first half saw Innisfail on the scoreboard.

Innisfail’s woes continued early in the second

half when fullback Matthew Gibuma sprinted 75 metres and scored his second try for Mossman under the posts.

In A grade Aaron Jolley scored a double for Innisfail in his team’s nail-biting two point win against Mossman Sharks on Saturday. Photo by Maria Girgenti Minutes later, Jackson Laza struck back for Innisfail with a runaway try and a successful conversion by Jolley had the score 28-12 in favour of Mossman.

Fullback Devante Heron scored the first try The Leprechauns backed it up soon after with for Innisfail in the Reserve grade game against a try to Chris Galea and when Jolley scored his Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks. Photo by Maria second try of the match and slotted the extras, Girgenti

Innisfail were back in the hunt trailing by only four.

When Dan Sagigi crashed over under the posts, scores were level at 28 all and the extras were added off the boot of Jolley. Innisfail held a slim two-point lead for the first time in the game.

Spectators sat on the edge of their seats and breathed a sigh of relief when Mossman missed a crucial penalty kick in the final minutes of the game, which saw Innisfail snatch a 30-28 victory from the jaws of the Sharks.

A-grade coach Leon Hallie said it was good to get the win after a bad start. “We didn’t handle the wet and slippery conditions very well, however once we got on track with what we planned to do we got ourselves back into the game but nearly left it too late. There are also a few injury concerns with Ashton Galea and Ronnie Ambrum.”

After holding a slim two-point lead at halftime in the reserve grade game Innisfail proved too strong for Mossman with a 22-14 victory at full time.

Two tries were scored by fullback Devante Heron with one apiece to James Songoro and Roy Mooka for Innisfail while Jason Fourmile, Trazane Cobb and Bruce Joseph were the Sharks’ try scorers.

In a very physical encounter, two on-field scuffles ensued in the second half and the referee sent three players to cool their heels in the sin bin.

The Under-18 team picked up points on a forfeit from Mossman who were unable to field a side.

In the inaugural start to the Women’s NRL touch competition, Innisfail downed Mossman 24-4 and kept their opposition scoreless in the first half.

Josephine Spry scored Innisfail’s first try with tries also to Ashley Marshall and Alex Ambrum.

Tilly Fejo scored right on the halftime siren which saw Innisfail take a convincing 16-0 at the break.

Innisfail continued to dominate in the second half with tries to Rylee Wallace and Natalie Ah Kee. Mossman’s only points came in the dying minutes of the game through a try to Chenoa Ryan.

In Round 2, Innisfail will travel up the hill this Saturday to clash with Mareeba Gladiators in their first away game of the season.

Tilly Fejo finds space during Innisfail’s first game against Mossman Sharkettes in the inaugural women’s NRL touch football competition introduced to CDRL this season. Photo by Maria Girgenti

Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, April 4, 2018 Page 17