AgForce president Brent Finlay said it was a positive sign to see LNP leader Campbell Newman recognise agriculture as Queensland’s most important industry at the Liberal National Party convention on Sunday.

“Protecting national and global food security is a key policy platform for AgForce, so we fully support Mr Newman’s statement that nothing is more important than agriculture,” Mr Finlay said.

“Queensland producers perform society’s most vital role, producing high-quality, sustainable food and fibre for Australia and the world while proving their credentials as sustainable and productive landscape custodians.

“While AgForce acknowledges the importance of what Mr Newman refers to as the ‘four pillars’ of the state’s economy - agriculture, construction, resources and tourism – Australia has an ethical and moral obligation to continue to feed the 20 million people nationally and 60 million internationally and we must see a framework free of social and political barriers to drive sustainable food and fibre production.”

Mr Finlay said AgForce is looking forward to receiving further detail from the LNP on how they think agriculture fits into the state economy and seeing what structures the LNP would introduce to support the industry.

“Often agriculture is paid lip service while being overlooked for other profitable industries that directly compete for the same land that are our livelihoods,” Mr Finlay said.

“AgForce welcomes any party who shows a staunch commitment to agriculture, and we hope that the LNP continue this stance as we move towards a state election.”