Premier Anna Bligh’s calculated decision to shaft the
bush in a desperate bid to secure green votes at this Saturday’s election is a clear indication of government intent on power at any price, according to the editorial in Queensland Country Life this week.
The tactic, the editorial says, will not surprise rural Queenslanders who received an absolute flogging during the Beattie years, but there had been a real expectation that a smarter and
seemingly more sincere Bligh would do better than just hammer the bush in a bid to secure the urban vote.
It continues: "Unfortunately, when push comes to shove, the behind-in-the-polls Premier has chosen the same cheap and nasty election ploy so successfully employed by her predecessor.
"Rather than carry through with her repeated promises to consult and work with rural industry on vegetation management and the Great Barrier Reef, she has opted to brand farmers as reckless land managers as part of a Labor-Greens preference deal.
"The need to protect our most productive farmland from mining also does not appear to be of concern.
"The move has infuriated rural industry, which has invested years attempting to work cooperatively with the Labor administration.
"Canegrowers chief executive officer Ian Ballantyne is just one who has railed against Bligh’s stunt. 'Agriculture in this State needs considered and constructive policy, not a knee-jerk election platform which vilifies farmers while making a play for the uncommitted urban vote,' Mr Ballantyne said.
“'The Premier is running an increasingly negative campaign which fundamentally accuses farmers of being irresponsible environmental vandals – cheap shots aimed at an unconvinced electorate.'
"The clear message emerging from Bligh is that further restrictions will be placed on agriculture – regardless of science or what impact it has on profitability or sustainability – simply because the message can be sold to urban voters.
"The now hapless Health Minister and then Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson declared in 2005 the Vegetation Management Act had delivered certainty to landholders.
"Less than 18 months after tree clearing was banned throughout the State, Queensland’s food and fibre producers have anything but certainty.
"Regardless of the rhetoric spewed forth by the legion of Labor’s spin doctors, agriculture in Queensland survives in spite of, and not because of, the current administration.
"The Bligh Government does not deserve to be returned to power because it cannot grasp the fundamental fact that agriculture is arguably the only driver Queensland has to ensure its continued prosperity during this time of global financial crisis.
"However, the real danger come Saturday is that rural Queensland will suffer under a hung Parliament controlled by independents, rather than receiving the change in government it so desperately requires."
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