ADVOCACY EVENT DELIVERS HEADSTART

An advocacy event for the Central Highlands has helped deliver more support for disaster-affected primary producers.

The Federal and Queensland Governments have agreed to fund embryo transfer procedures in relief arrangements, following a proposal that picked up pace at last year’s Farm to Fine Dining.

Jane Armstrong, managing director of Emerald-based reproductive service Insight Repro (pictured), first raised the idea at a government planning consultation in Emerald in May 2025 and that opened the door to more conversations at Farm to Fine Dining in Brisbane weeks later.

“(Industry advocate) Sonya Comiskey introduced me to lots of people, including senior advisors from the Department of Primary Industries, and so to be able to pitch the idea at that event was invaluable,” Ms Armstrong says.

She says the willingness of both governments to take action demonstrates their confidence in, and commitment to, Central Queensland.

“Having their support and constant reassurance along the way was amazing.”

Under the change, embryo transfer costs, including drugs, veterinary fees and travel, are now eligible for reimbursement through Queensland’s $75,000 primary producer recovery grants, backdated to January 2025.

Ms Armstrong conceived the proposal after seeing clients lose stock to flooding.

“This gives local producers a way to protect their genetics – the best of their bulls and cows – so they don’t have to start from scratch if a disaster happens,” she explains.

“When producers lose cattle, they lose genetics, and the setback is enormous.

“You don’t see a return on your animal for three years so with embryo transfer, we can speed things up.

“To be able to get this over the line has been humbling and surreal.”

CHDC CEO Peter Dowling says the outcome is testament to the value of Farm to Fine Dining, an annual event hosted by CHDC since 2016.

“We’ve always seen Farm to Fine Dining as a really critical relationship-builder and conversation-starter,” Mr Dowling says.

“The food is the centrepiece for showcasing our region’s agriculture, but just as powerful is the event’s ability to bring together people from across all sectors with key decision-makers in government and industry.

“When that connection has this kind of result, that’s immensely gratifying.

“Jane is to be congratulated for taking the bull by the horns to get this outcome and we’re also grateful to the State and Federal Governments for backing it every step of the way.”

The 11th Central Highlands Farm to Fine Dining will take place in Brisbane in September 2026.

More information about the Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants can be found here.

Queensland is the first to implement the disaster relief change and Ms Armstrong will now advocate for other States and Territories to follow suit.