State Election Wish Lists

With Queensland’s State Election set for Saturday 26 October, scuttlebutt and commentary is coming to the fore on the various media platforms, in office hallways and out in the paddock. There’s a mix of excitement, concern and guardedness depending on who you talk to.

CHDC’s a non-political organisation with a strong history of working with all for the benefit of the Central Highlands. With that in mind, I thought it’d be valuable to share the election priorities of some of our peak industry bodies.

At the local government level we have the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).  With a Vote for Local catch-cry, the Association are advocating for the following priorities from the next government:

• Better local infrastructure
• Energy & community transformation
• Reducing cost of living
• Building safe & resilient communities
• Protecting the environment
• Stronger councils
• Addressing the housing crisis
• Empowering First Nations Peoples

Here’s the LGAQ Interim Report Card on how the parties have performed to date.

With a dominant resources sector in our region, its State body is the Queensland Resources Council, which has the following priorities:

• Competitiveness and Stability to Protect and Grow Jobs
• Skills for the Future
• Energy Security, Diversity and Transition

Agriculture is the backbone of our region and here are the priorities for the Queensland Farmers’ Federation:

• Investment in a ‘spine of resources’ for natural hazard mitigation to support the needs of farm businesses through the cycle of natural disasters and drought.
• $24 million over 4 years to deliver on-farm water efficiency support for farmers, and extension of the irrigation discount
• $10 million over 4 years for the SmartAg Queensland program to increase skills and capacity across the agriculture sector through industry-led initiatives.
• $8 million over 4 years to accelerate smart metering, switchboard upgrades, data use and data security to enable farmers to access energy innovation and tariff efficiencies.
• Development of a strategic plan as a priority for food and agriculture to ensure the future viability of farmers so that consumers can continue to access high quality, affordable Australian food, fibre and foliage.
• Elevation of biosecurity including a whole of government commitment to work with industry to review Queensland’s current biosecurity funding model and build the capacity to manage the increased risks ahead.
• Removal of stamp duty on crop insurance to assist farmers to manage climate risk which currently costs the government between $3 million – $5 million in lost revenue.
• An effective approach to land use planning to ensure the protection of prime agricultural land and management of the impacts of increased demand for land such as urban development, environmental requirements and developer offsets, the renewable energy rollout, carbon farming, mining and gas.
• Investment in vital road and transport networks including the Bruce Highway and Bremer Bridge, and improvement in planning and management of the transport of renewable infrastructure on road networks.

Business Chamber Queensland has set its Business Blueprint with the following priorities:

• Business Friendly Government
• Enhancing productivity
• Growing workforces
• Sustainability and energy
• Local and global business
• Thriving communities

Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) is Queensland’s peak body for the social service sector and is focused on the following priorities.

• Improve the sustainability of the community services sector
• End Queensland’s housing crisis
• Reduce the cost of living
• Give all children a good start
• Invest in Queensland’s youth services
• Advance women’s equality
• Continue the development of a Human Rights respecting culture in Queensland

There are many more peak bodies and organisations that represent our various business and industry sectors, however there are too many to list, so hopefully the above give you a flavour of what’s being advocated for with just over 5 weeks to go.

I encourage all eligible to vote and be a participant in democracy. For all election information please go to the Electoral Commission Queensland.