SUPPORT for agriculture and the management of mining growth as well as regional infrastructure, education and health standards, bureaucracy and financial management – all are up for grabs in the countdown to a March 24 election.
The date was set by Premier Bligh this morning as controversy flared over the management of Wivenhoe Dam during the 2011 floods and authorities confirmed that an official dam inquiry would be reconvened.
The arduous eight and a half-week state election campaign will bump the date for planned council elections back to April 28 and has angered Local Government Association president Paul Bell, who says the delay will create cash flow problems for local councils.
In an unexpected move, the Premier said she would not visit the Governor to confirm the date until February 19, allowing the Floods Commission of Inquiry up to six extra days of public hearings.
LNP leader, Campbell Newman attacked the Premier for creating four months of uncertainty, but the main political impact of the timetable will be to maximise the drain on LNP resources during the extended campaign period.
Labor is trailing in the polls and its strategists believe the Premier’s chances of defeating Mr Newman will improve the longer the poll is delayed.
Nothing announced today will stop a further delay to the poll date if the commission of inquiry requests more time prior to February 19.
“Why are 73 local government elections around Queensland being pushed back? That adds more months of uncertainty when she has had a year to separate out the two elections,” Mr Newman said.
“This election should be about getting Queensland back on track. Every day the Premier plays politics is another day of lost opportunity.”
The rapid growth of gas mining across the State heads the list of concerns for rural groups as the poll draws near.
AgForce CEO Robert Walker says the group wants six key commitments from the major parties:
Protect agriculture from coal seam gas and mining developmentsCommit to an immediate review of leasehold rents and maintain grazing access to state forest leasesDevelop biosecurity plans for the worst pest plants and animals to keep Qld disease free.Identify economic growth corridors outside SEQ and relieve transport ‘bottlenecks’ Repeal Wild Rivers declarations No new vegetation management controls and review existing laws to minimise impact on producers Mr Walker says the poll announcement brings an end to uncertainty that has been plaguing the political process for months.
“We will be looking to all the major parties to clearly acknowledge and commit resources to the future of agriculture,” Mr Walker said.
“AgForce also seeks a commitment from the Labor Party particularly that there will be no ‘behind the scenes’ deals done with the Greens or minority groups like the WWF that will have adverse effects on primary production,” he said.
The list of demands had been forwarded to all parties with a request for a written response.
A second list of policy priorities was released today by the peak sugarcane group, Canegrowers.
CEO Steve Greenwood said his organisation was focussed on the ‘six R’s for rebuilding the strength of rural Queensland’:
Reinvest in research and developmentRemove inefficient government water and electricity costsReduce green tape and accelerate innovationReinvigorate plans for growthRetain and enhance biosecurityRebuild and reskill the workforceIn its pre-election campaign, the Queensland Farmers Federation has warned the Government and opposition parties not to become reliant on revenue from the burgeoning coal seam gas industry.
Writing in Queensland Country Life, QFF president Joanne Grainger said that in the heat of the campaign, it would be tempting for both sides to start spending CSG royalty revenue.
This would be bad policy from the perspective of farmers for many reasons,” she said. “It would lock the State into a scenario where that revenue must be pursued at all costs.”
“Farmers are very much opposed to a free-for-all pursuit of this resource. It must be developed sustainably and cooperatively with landholders.”
Ms Grainger said her organisation was also paying close attention to the policy positions of alternative governments relating to water reform. The new Government would face a challenge in dealing with the Queensland Competition Authority’s review of Sunwater charges for the five years from July 2012.
“This is shaping up as a critical issue for irrigators across the State,” she said.
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