"The solutions aren't just in George Street," Mr Mulherin says. "Working collaboratively and in partnerships you get the best outcomes."

AgForce president Peter Kenny says the lines of communication were open from day one, and his Opposition counterpart, Mike Horan, even counts him as a friend.

Mr Mulherin may be well liked, but has he delivered for rural Queensland?

Since becoming Minister, he and his director general, Dr Jim Varghese, regularly visit regional DPI&F offices where they conduct feedback sessions with staff and industry stakeholders, from which plans are drawn up to address performance issues.

The initiative is part of a seven-point plan Mr Mulherin has drawn up for the Department in a bid to accelerate economic growth for rural industries. The plan involves attracting new investment in agriculture by working more closely with the finance sector; better capitilisation of DPI&F's research and development; managing biosecurity risks; boosting exports and trade through things like the Handshakes program; promoting new agricultural precincts such as the proposed Fitzroy irrigation area; improving skills and labour, and cutting business red tape.

But criticism from the bush continues that not enough resources are being put into the Department, particularly in the areas of biosecurity, and extension staff.

"In regard to the operation of the portfolio under Tim, the trend that's been there since the beginning of the Beattie Government has continued: DPI&F is at the end of the Ministerial pecking order," Mr Horan said.

He argues the Department needs a stronger Minister who can deliver a clear vision for agriculture and "thumps the table in cabinet" for more resources for the Department, Mr Kenny is not sure that approach would work.

"We know there is a reasonable amount of discomfort in the bush with DPI and the services they're putting out there, but people have got to realise it's a whole of Government issue and not just DPI's problem," he said.

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