$30m announced for renewable fuel – NQ sugar primed to deliver

ON BEHALF OF BOB KATTER, FEDERAL KENNEDY MP

KATTER'S Australian Party (KAP) MP Bob Katter has 30 million "sweet" reasons to celebrate today as his party's staple emissions reduction and fuel sovereignty policy received a major boost.

Mr Katter congratulated the Federal Government on its "first real step" towards emissions reduction and creation of Australian industry when it announced $30m in grants for companies to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel on Wednesday.

While the announcement was directed towards the aviation industry, Mr Katter said the significant investment in renewable fuel would greatly benefit agriculture both in North Queensland and throughout

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Australia and pave the way for greater production and consumption of ethanol at a household level.

Mr Katter said the announcement would provide a "glimmer of hope" for the long-established Ingham renewable fuel company – North Queensland BioEnergy – created in 2004 to diversify the incomes of the region's sugar growers. However, with very little public support, the aspirational company had "shelved" its plans.

"Nick Dametto (Hinchinbrook MP), Robert Carey (NQBE CEO), you can break out the champagne bottles, but you can't pop the cork just yet. When the KAP gets the balance of power in state parliament next year, it'll be take off time," Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter reflected on the successes of KAP's

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lobbying for increased renewable fuel use but said Wednesday's announcement presented an opportunity to go further.

"I want to put on record my personal thanks to the ALP and trade union friends of mine who attended a meeting with a former state treasurer that secured, along with the KAP state members, 4.5 per cent ethanol use in Queensland."

"Former New South Wales premier Morris Iemma, with the Australian Medical Association, got 6.5 per cent ethanol in New South Wales. I think the window is now open for 10 per cent in every litre of fuel in Australia.

"It also opens the way to zero-emission transportation in Australia and full fuel self-sufficiency, instead of sending $40bn a year overseas to buy petrol, diesel, avgas and lubricants, that $40bn a year will be going into Australian pockets."

Mr Katter said North Queensland's sugar industry was primed to deliver Australia's renewable and sustainable fuel requirements.

"Sugar cane absorbs 72 tonnes of CO2 per hectare, per year. 10ha of sugar cane creates 10,000L of ethanol. And it creates renewable electricity, renewable petrol and "sweeteners" in all our lives.

"We congratulate the government, this is the first real, fair dinkum reduction in CO2 emissions and the first creation of an industry in Australia. This is of course if it happens - a press statement is not reality."

Sari Russo

THE 8th9th Battalion, part of the 7th Brigade, came north from Brisbane to Ingham to conduct an exercise called the Diamond Strike, part of exercises Southern Jackeroo and Coral Warrior, which simulate noncombatant operations. They also utilised the military area high range in Townsville.

"We have got some of our Pacific Partners here. Our Battalion has a really close relationship with the Royal Military Forces of Fiji, and they team with us quite regularly. They're here with us as well, and we are doing a rehearsal exercise for a non-combatant evacuation. So, suppose Australians are in trouble overseas, and our government believes it to be serious. In that case, we are able to support Australians in need," said Ben Watson, Commanding officer of the 8th 9th Battalion out of Brisbane, "We are rehearsing going into a country, establishing a post to enable DFAT to then do an extraction of Australians and potentially some approved foreign nationals."

After the soldiers arrived in Hinchinbrook via the

United States Marine Corps helicopter (airport) and military vehicle, they undertook security and stability activities in/around Ingham.

Community members were able to participate in the non-combatant operation on Sunday, Jun 25. They could meet the army at extraction points in Ingham as the Battalion and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade practice an evacuation. The meeting points were: Corner Menzies Street/Marine Parade or the Carpark at the back of Dancer's Academy on McIlwraith Street.

This year's non-combatant operation also included the military forces of Tonga, France, and Fiji, demonstrating a commitment to the partners of Australia's armed forces through disaster relief and security response planning.

This exercise demonstrated the growing strength and sophistication of the Australian armed forces' engagement with regional allies and partners. The training aimed to deepen the relationship with the US and Japan by exercising combined force interoperability and capacity to respond to events in our region.

Soldiers from the Australian Army and Republic of Fiji Military Forces secure Ingham Airfield during a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation.

Soldiers from the Australian Army and Republic of Fiji Military Forces secure Ingham Airfield during a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation as part of exercise Diamond Strike 2023.

Soldiers from the Australian Army and Republic of Fiji Military Forces secure Ingham Airfield during a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation as part of exercise Diamond Strike 2023.