| QLD: BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR AGRICULTURE |
| 09-06-2010 |
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said agriculture and its supply chain supports one in eight jobs in Queensland. "The Bligh Government has committed to build stronger agri-business and deliver more jobs for the sector, this budget delivers on this undertaking," Mr Mulherin said. "Our Fresh Approach reforms aim to help grow primary industries to $34 billion by 2020. "We are delivering the reforms required in research, extension and training that will provide the skills needed for expansion of the sector in the future." "The Bligh Government will also develop a food policy, to highlight the industry's importance to the Queensland economy and explore further ways to boost it. Mr Mulherin said $3.5 million in additional money had been allocat ed to implement the Biosecurity Strategy and Biosecurity Act. "Biosecurity Queensland will continue its important work to protect the state from pests and diseases in partnership with industry, local government and the community," he said. "We are committed to reducing biosecurity risks by detecting pests and diseases early so responses can be mounted more quickly and effectively." Other initiatives include: • An additional $3 million has been allocated to be matched by the Australian Government, to maintain expenditure on the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program for 2010-11. • $6.5 million to establish the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) in partnership with the University of Queensland. This will strengthen food and fibre research and development. • $20 million reform of the Australian Agricultural College Corporation (AACC) to increase its delivery sites from five to 14 by 2 012. • $1.5 million has been allocated to establish the Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease at Coopers Plains, to continue the research into the fight against Hendra virus. "This will strengthen the AACC's position and providing education and skilling that industry needs for the future. "Through consultation, industry has told us we needed to change the way we delivered agricultural education and training. We responded with broader and more flexible training options for Queensland's agricultural workforce." Mr Mulherin said the opening of the new $100 million Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains was imminent, with 147 staff moving in over the coming months. "Work at the new Health and Food Sciences Precinct will maintain Queensland's international reputation for clean, safe and high quality food and animal products," said Mr Mulherin. "The precinct will focus on the creation of 'super' foods to co mbat disorders like diabetes and degenerative eye diseases and enhance animal health, biosecurity and food integrity by expanding the range of new methods to protect against emerging and exotic diseases and contaminants in food. Mr Mulherin said the $31.8 million increase over last year's budget is largely the result of the integration of services for the food, wine and timber industries and regional services following the formation of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). "During the 2009-10 financial year the portfolio responsibilities were increased to include these areas promoting a more streamlined focus within DEEDI," Mr Mulherin said. "With the portfolio responsibilities already including rural and regional Queensland, the addition of these areas provided synergy and enhanced service delivery in the regions." Mr Mulherin said the Bligh Government will continue to roll out initiatives funded under the $100 million Sustainable Resource Communities Policy to help regional communities manage the impacts of resource development. "This includes $23.6 million for the Surat Basin region and $10.1 million for the Bowen Basin region for economic and social infrastructure projects." Mr Mulherin said the Government will provide $7.52 million over the next four years to support regional economic development projects through the Queensland Regional Development Initiative (QRDI). "This is an increase of $1.26 million over the previous four year period," Mr Mulherin said. "The Initiative will support economic development projects and activities administered through regional and remote development organisations across six regions."
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