AgForce Queensland Industrial Union of Employers
ABN 21 241 679 171
Second Floor, 110 Mary Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000
PO Box 13186, North Bank Plaza, cnr Ann & George Sts, Brisbane Qld 4003
Ph: (07) 3236 3100
Fax: (07) 3236 3077
Email: agforce@agforceqld.org.au
Web: www.agforceqld.org.au
14 August 2014
Developing Northern Australia White Paper Taskforce
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO B0X 6500
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Dear Sir
Re: Submission to Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia
AgForce Queensland (AgForce) is the peak representative group representing the majority of beef,
sheep and wool, and grain producers in Queensland. AgForce represents thousands of members
who collectively manage over 50 per cent of Queensland. AgForce exists to ensure the long term
growth, viability, competitiveness and profitability of these industries that provide high quality food
and fibre products to Australian and overseas consumers, manage a significant proportion of
Queensland’s natural resources and contribute to the social fabric of rural and remote communities.
Given their existing foothold in Queensland, our membership has a significant interest in Northern
Australia and is well-placed to capitalise on what is seen as an area of Australia with large potential
for further agricultural development. This will largely depend on strong business cases for
investment, underpinned by secure access to water, appropriate land tenure arrangements and
research into overcoming past barriers to development.
In compiling this submission AgForce notes the significant body of literature that already exists on
the many impediments and pathways for developing northern Australia. With this in mind and
notwithstanding the current budgetary constraints, AgForce submits the challenge for government is
in identifying a number of investment priorities, guided by a cost benefit analysis and then taking
the bold step to make generational investment, including in conjunction with the private sector, as a
number of previous governments have done.
Over the last four years, the Northern Australia Beef Industry Working Group has been developing a
strategic framework for sustainable and economic growth of the northern beef industry. The
Taskforce’s initial seven strategic priorities and six joint projects provide an initial basis for increased
cattle production in the north (see http://www.regional.gov.au/regional/ona/nabis.aspx). Plans for
Northern Australian development need to be industry driven and consider issues associated with
living, working and travelling across northern regions. Transport infrastructure is critical as there are
large distances to markets and supplies.
A number of suggestions have been compiled and presented in the attachment for the Committee’s
consideration under the impediment categories that have been previously considered by groups and
individuals investigating Northern Australia.
1
AgForce has made response to many of the questions posed within the Green Paper in an
attachment to this letter however, please note that many of the issues that AgForce presents as part
of this submission are outlined in further detail in a range of other publically available submissions
including but not limited to:
-
Joint Senate Committee Inquiry into Development of Northern Australia, April 2014;
The Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper issues paper, April 2014;
Queensland Government Cape York Regional Plan, March 2014;
Queensland Government Discussion Paper on Restricted Areas, March 2014;
EPBC Artificial Watering Points Key Threatening Process; February 2014;
Queensland Government Ag Rail Freight Inquiry, February, 2014;
Senate Inquiry on the Reserve Bank Amendment (Australian Reconstruction and
Development Board) Bill 2013, February 2014;
Queensland Government’s Regional Planning Interests Bill 2013, January 2014;
Queensland Government’s Digital Economy Strategy, December 2013;
Queensland Port Strategy, December 2013;
Queensland Department of Agriculture’s RD&E Strategic Plan, August 2013;
Queensland Government’s Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill 2013, April
2013;
Queensland’s Government’s Inquiry into the Future Relevance of Government-owned
Tenure, June 2012.
AgForce would like to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister and Cabinet for the opportunity
to comment on this important initiative. If you have any questions relating to the submission please
feel free to contact General Manager of Policy Lauren Hewitt on (07) 3236 3100 or email
xxxxxxxxxxxx.
Yours sincerely
Signature removed
Ian Burnett
General President, AgForce Queensland
2
Responses to Questions Posed in the Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia
Section A: Tell us what you think
1. Are these the major characteristics of northern Australia?
-
Geographically isolated from other parts of Australia with the flipside being that it is far closer to Asian markets. The downside being that often
costs are more expensive as a result of isolation.
-
Land use dominated by grazing industry across rangelands country.
-
Majority of land owned by States and leased back to graziers.
-
Reasonably reliable wet season which brings substantial, currently uncaptured water flows.
-
Significant uninhabited coastline which poses a biosecurity threat from new incursions as well as constraining the ability to quickly respond to
incidents and threats.
-
Contains the majority of the Australian beef cattle herd as well as largely untapped opportunities for cropping and niche or premium food and fibre
products.
-
Lower population densities, ageing producer populations and limited educational opportunities bring workforce challenges for agriculture sector
and a need for further skilling to take advantage of opportunities.
2. How do these characteristics differ across and within northern Australia?
-
The most stark difference across and within the North is attributed to the fact that it covers three State or Territory jurisdictions and there is
inconsistent policy in those jurisdictions on a number of the issues noted in (1) above. This has resulted in some States being more advanced
‘agriculturally speaking’ than others – for instance, the Ord project in Western Australia is unique and nothing of a similar scale has yet been built in
other States.
3
-
Another example of this is the tenure types – ie, the majority of NT is perpetual lease however the vast majority of Queensland is term lease which
is granted only for limited time periods.
3. What features of northern Australia are the most important to its current growth and future development?
-
Improved capital infrastructure, for example roads and ports and other opportunities such as creating irrigation schemes to capture unutilised
water.
AgForce believes that contrary to the desired position outlined in the Green Paper, both State and Federal Government must play a significant role
through the provision of seed funding (as well as the development of appropriate policy settings) in order to get this infrastructure built.
4. What do the population, demographic, employment and urbanisation trends mean for northern Australia?
AgForce believes they will continue along current trends unless new initiatives are supported and implemented through this or another economic
development strategy. It is therefore important that any capital provided is invested in infrastructure which becomes self-sustaining.
There is likely to be a further progressive decline in populations in smaller centres, unless economic drawcards occur in those areas eg such as large
scale resource or agriculture projects. This trend underlines the need for good transportation and communications infrastructure to deliver the
economic and lifestyle attributes necessary to simply maintain the existing population in the remote areas of the north.
5. What are the prospects and major risks for the northern Australian economy over the next decade? What aspects of the northern Australian economy
should be a focus for governments?
Prospects:
-
Increased agricultural market access in Asia.
Significant opportunities for investors in agricultural and other industries.
A streamlined native title process which delivers fair and efficient outcomes for both pastoralists and graziers.
Major Risks:
-
Narrow economic base built on the resources sector and so vulnerable to cycles of boom and bust – diversification is important for resilience.
4
-
Lack of consideration of unique factors when setting policy, including dealing with stranded assets at the end of resources projects – need to
consider maintaining alternative access and flexible options for use of infrastructure after the life of projects.
Lack of investment due to lack of skilling of the local population to be ‘investment ready’ or the availability of a suitable number and scale of
projects to enable investment flows, both domestically and from overseas sources.
Not attracting enough young people into agriculture and its enabling fields (such as agricultural science) and the need to streamline succession,
such as through reducing barriers like stamp duty on intergenerational transfers (an issue in Queensland).
Ongoing low average profitability in the broadacre agricultural sector and current elevated debt levels limiting the capacity of many existing
operators to take advantage of further investment opportunities or to fund infrastructure or other enabling elements in the absence of public
funding.
Section B: Tell us what you think
1. Are these the major global and domestic trends that are creating opportunities for development in northern Australia?
-
Increasing export of agricultural product to Asia built on a clean and green image. This is dependent on maintaining biosecurity integrity and
building effective trade and exchange programs.
2. What does the rise of Asia mean for northern Australia? How could new opportunities be pursued?
-
-
The Australian agricultural industry does not have the capacity to supply the sizeable demand of Asia and therefore will likely be better placed to
supply high quality product into niche markets rather than aiming at supplying bulk, undifferentiated food and fibre commodities.
Many Asia food companies are increasingly looking to Australia to meet future demands for safe, high quality food. This will require a clear
understanding of what customers in these markets demand, through greater communication and networking and the preparedness to alter our
production, processing and supply chains in order to deliver in a reliable and trusted manner.
New science means that more land can be opened up for more intensive food production in a sustainable manner. This requires further and
targeted investment and a reversal in the current decline in public RD&E funding intensity, which is clearly linked by ABARES research to a
slowdown in productivity.
5
3. What are the prospects to further expand northern Australia’s minerals and energy sectors?
AgForce lacks the expertise to comment on these prospects but it is important when considering the expansion of the resource sector to ensure that
future development integrates well with the existing economy including other sectors such as agriculture to avoid a narrowing of the economic base
within any particular a region of northern Australia. Potential synergies between industries should be a focus of further investigation.
4. What impact does the strategic environment have on northern Australia’s economic development?
Agriculture and the exchange of relevant tropical production knowledge and expertise can contribute significantly to national relationships and regional
stability and could be seen as a key part of the projection of ‘soft diplomacy’ in the regional neighbourhood. ACIAR project funding has played a
significant role in tropical agriculture in the past and should continue to be supported by the Government. The benefits of such aid work should be
clearly communicated to the Australian community so that public support for this work will continue.
5. What are the major opportunities to grow education, research and skills development in the north? What comparative advantages do northern
institutions have?
-
Proximity to Asian markets which has allowed emerging collaborations with overseas institutions, particularly at the tertiary education level.
Strong tropical agriculture R&D expertise. Australia has internationally-valued experience in successful agricultural production in one of the most
difficult operating environments in the world and has historically made a strong contribution to agricultural research developments in tropical and
sub-tropical agriculture. The focus on skills and knowledge exports could be in the following areas:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Effective farming practice and risk management under seasonal and climatic variability, including recovery from natural disasters.
Preservation of soil fertility and nutrients.
Sustainably integrating agriculture with the natural environment.
Improving fertiliser, energy and water use efficiency.
Reduction in food wastage during harvest, marketing and transportation.
Development of transparent and competitive commodity markets.
Agricultural policy development and governance arrangements.
Alongside the humanitarian outcomes, there are a range of spin off benefits to Australian primary producers including the development of international
networks, improved communication and knowledge exchange and fresh perspectives and approaches to domestic production problems. It is important
that there is an appropriate capture of these benefits in local industries to retain domestic public support for these intellectual property exports, or they
will be seen as undermining our competitive advantages.
6
-
In the case of FutureBeef extension team – a demonstrated model of engagement with graziers.
The implementation of good enterprise benchmarking tools, through continued funding of MLA’s Northern Beef Situational Analysis which
identifies strengths and weaknesses of agricultural enterprises to build competitiveness.
6. How can Indigenous Australians in the north more actively participate in economic development?
-
-
Through the provision by Governments of secure land tenure and the building of agricultural skills, indigenous groups are well-placed to take on a
self-sustaining role in supplying agricultural product for Asia. This could include further development of novel ‘bush foods’, with potential linkages
to opportunities driven by other large scale agricultural development and a market development program to build recognition and marketing to
create the demand for these novel products. Agronomic and other barriers to economically viable production would have to be investigated.
Share indigenous skills with Australians and others.
Build on agricultural properties by enabling diversification into a range of tourism ventures.
7. What are the opportunities to diversify northern Australia’s economy? What could be done to grow established sectors, such as agriculture or tourism?
-
As noted in (c) below.
8. Are the north’s natural assets and resources underutilised? What can be done to realise the opportunities provided by the region’s unique natural
qualities?
-
AgForce agrees that the North’s natural assets and resources are currently underutilised. Increased and sustainable agricultural output could be
realised through:
o
Allowing staged and sustainable development of northern Queensland vegetation bioregions to allow for diversification and localised,
targeted intensification. In comparison to southern bioregions, the north Queensland bioregions are substantively undeveloped and in
many instances have up to 96% of their land mass covered in remnant vegetation which is not allowed to be developed, despite the
potential to do so on an environmentally sustainable basis. To achieve this potential, further amendment is required to the Vegetation
Management Act 1999 (Qld).
o
Both graziers and native title applicants need an equitable and streamlined manner to deal with native title claims. Currently the process is
slow, cumbersome and seems to deliver little of benefit to either party, despite the years and money spent in the Federal Court process.
7
o
Both graziers and native title applicants need secure tenure upon which to build their businesses. Most land in Queensland is currently
term lease – granted for up to 40 years and to move to a more secure form of tenure (perpetual or freehold), native title is required to be
extinguished. The system therefore provides no flexibility to allow graziers and native title applicants to coexist, with the native title
applicants being required to give up all current and future rights and interests to allow a term lease to become more secure. To address
this situation a review of both the State and Federal Native Title Acts is required.
o
Plentiful water resources need to be sustainably utilised through infrastructure development and changes to entitlements granted under
the Water Act 2000 that deliver further opportunity while ensuring adverse impacts on existing users or the environment are avoided. The
Queensland government is investigating ‘water development options’ which provides greater up-front certainty for potential investors in
terms of delivering more confidence in their access to sufficient water resources. Further funding of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability
Initiative (GABSI) would achieve the much needed sustainability of groundwater use that supports a broad range of groundwater
dependent economic development and social and cultural outcomes. Further data on available water resources, cost/benefit analysis of
potential infrastructure investment and sustainable consumptive use levels is needed to ensure that further development will be resilient
and sustainable.
o
Investment into transportation infrastructure and policies to get agricultural product quickly and cost-effectively to port and rail
infrastructure. Airports will also be important for accessing very high value Asian markets, as is being demonstrated by fresh milk exports
to China and by interest out of the Wellcamp airport currently under construction. Government funding will be required to fund these
types of infrastructure, however it is submitted that this investment would be paid back multiple times over in the future through greater
export earnings and income and tax revenues. While governments can play a role in facilitating private investment into infrastructure, the
opportunity is unlikely to be realised without a level of government investment (as has occurred elsewhere in southern Australia in the
past). Arguments based on per capita comparisons (such as on page 46) simply work to entrench the current national population
distribution and are unhelpful in the context of encouraging further development in the north.
o
Investing in improved communications. Much of this must be achieved through hard infrastructure investment into mobile and broadband
capability however, it can also be leveraged off private, local and state funding opportunities for maximum benefit.
Section C: Tell us what you think
1. Are these the major barriers to further economic development in northern Australia? What are the impacts on industries and communities?
-
A lack of investment and targeted policy means that the asset base of Northern Australia remains unrealized. By adopting some/all of the ideas
posed in the summary table through a long term plan below this could be redressed.
8
2. What are the main factors that attract or deter people from living and working in northern Australia?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
3. What are the infrastructure limitations across northern Australia?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
4. How effective are the arrangements for accessing and using land in northern Australia?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
5. How effective has investment in water infrastructure and planning been in northern Australia? What impacts has this had on economic development,
industry growth and the environment?
-
Queensland has undergone an extensive water planning process and now most regions and water resource units have Water Resource Plans and
Resource Operations Plans. This sets a sustainable base for further decisions about water allocation and provides confidence in the security of
current water entitlements. Further progress in making current allocations tradable and separate from parcels of land will enable more economic
activity to occur, as will a greater focus on outcomes-based regulation, as long as introduced flexibility does not undermine confidence in security of
entitlements. Queensland’s water trading market is in its infancy, relative to the southern States and will need to be supported to enable the
movement of water to efficient purposes.
6. What is impeding further business growth, trade and investment in the north? How do these challenges affect different industries?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
7. What are the governance challenges in northern Australia? How do they manifest in cities, towns and remote communities? How do they affect
economic development in the north?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
9
Section D: Tell us what you think
1. What are the right policy directions for further developing northern Australia? How can we support industry and community growth?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
2. How effective are programmes and policies affecting northern Australia? How could they be improved?
-
Improvement is possible - refer to summary table below.
3. What should be the respective roles of the Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments, the private sector, non-government organisations
and communities in pursuing these policy directions?
Collaborative and engaging of local stakeholders and communities in decision-making, rather than imposing externally developed ‘solutions’ without
consideration of local views and needs. The Cape York Wild Rivers declaration process was an example of ill-advised policy development. Refer to
summary table below
4. How should national approaches be tailored to support development in northern Australia? What would this mean for other parts of Australia?
5. In view of these possible policy directions, what specific actions should be taken to develop northern Australia? By whom? Over what time period?
-
As noted below in the summary table.
10
Grouping / Goal
Governance &
Regulation
Issue Background
Overlap, coordination and differing investment
timeframes and priorities associated with having
a 3-tiered government – these issues are often
exacerbated in remote communities. It has been
noted that governance areas in southern capital
cities often fail to take into account diverse
northern stakeholders and interests.
Need to prioritise effective/real consultation with
local stakeholder groups and increase cross
sector/interest collaboration
Loss of prime agricultural land to conservation
and/or other interest such as resource
development
Representation and prioritisation of regional
issues across many agencies and organisations
Multiple development approvals required for
agricultural developments
Lack of critical economic mass in some centres in
the north
Potential Solution
Continue with Northern Australian Ministerial Forum in bringing together relevant stakeholders and coordinating policies, regulations and investment.
Utilise and partner with cross-sector partnerships where they exist – i.e. the Mt Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone (MITEZ) and the Central
Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board.
No additional loss of limited, irreplaceable, high productivity agricultural land, either currently in use or with the potential for agricultural production,
which impacts on industry viability and development opportunities by loss of critical mass/scale. This principle needs to be committed to by State and
Federal Governments in land use policies and reflected in national park and protected area acquisition.
Retain Regional Development Australia as an overarching body to unify regional issues and priorities across many organisations, administer the Regional
Development Australia Fund and work towards sustainable growth and well-being across regions.
Continue red and green tape streamlining and clarification of the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government for project assessment. ‘One
stop shop’ type approaches offer a clearer and more efficient pathway to developers.
Leverage the opportunities for improved communication and data exchange promised by the NBN as a catalyst to decentralise government services and
relevant functions.
Trade
Lack of scale for SMEs in remote regions a barrier Provision of funding and/or tax incentives for SMEs in identified priority investment sectors.
to success
Export beef provides significant opportunity
Continue to strengthen global export demand and position through securing trade agreements and addressing export barriers. In this, benefits need to
flow through to the farm gate and this outcome should be linked to the review of competition law reform. AgForce and NFF submissions to that process
contain further details.
Ensuring knee-jerk, politically-poll-driven decisions that undermine vital markets are avoided and the full consequences of future government
interventions into the live export trade are considered soberly with appropriate industry consultation before being enacted. Financial damage caused by
past decisions needs to be addressed.
Government to investigate the feasibility and limitations of shipping boxed beef directly to international markets from ports such as Gladstone, Townsville
and Rockhampton in Queensland. Support trade and financial partnerships to ensure ongoing growth of the Australian Agricultural Company’s Darwin
abattoir.
Redress technical barriers to trade (TBT) that have been identified in the red meat sector. (A MLA report recently identified 136 technical market access
barriers are costing red meat more than $1.25 billion in lost export capacity). Overcoming TBT in livestock exportation involves establishing MOUs for all
emerging markets for slaughter/ feeder cattle as well as refining and resourcing the ESCAS according to demand
Support a greater focus of government trade enhancement services (like Austrade) at the farm-gate and final customer points and ensure experts with
farm-gate knowledge are involved in representations and trade delegations. The practice by DFAT of involving the NFF, commodity peak councils and
state farmer organisations at government-led trade negotiations is strongly supported and should continue.
Availability of capital for the development of Implement the national foreign investment register into agricultural land, water and supply chain assets to enable a transparent debate and to ensure
agriculture in the north.
that investment flows can occur easily where they are in the national interest.
Limited value chain adding
Investigate incentives available to diversify current export industries and add value to products domestically prior to export.
Review and remove current diversification restrictions existing on State-controlled leasehold land.
Investigate requirements for further strategically located meatworks to support cost-effective processing of increased numbers of locally-finished animals.
This should be linked to the development of increasing agricultural intensification and reliability of supply linked to large scale and mosaic irrigation
11
Cost of domestic processing of commodities
developments.
Implement labour-saving or efficiency initiatives such as tax incentives or accelerated depreciation rates for investment, and further RD&E into reducing
the costs of processing livestock.
Economic/
Taxation
Costs of operation. Major productive assets in Investigate alternate financing arrangements – regionalised finance brokerage, creating north Australian focussed superannuation funding arrangements
public hands. Distance from ports, road and rail and improved community and investment bank alliances for business financing (per Ernst and Young report 2012).
increase costs of goods and services.
Review rural and remote zonal concessions for policy effectiveness and the relevance/currency of the rates being applied.
Primary producer skills development
Climate Risk preparedness
Investigate the feasibility of special tax zones for Northern Australia to stimulate families and workers to live in rural remote communities. Constitutional
issues may need to be considered in this investigation.
Further training and skills development opportunities to ensure primary producers are ‘investment ready’ and capable and attractive to domestic and
overseas investment partnerships.
Include accelerated depreciation and tax incentives (e.g. 120% deductibility) for capital items identified in an approved farm strategic plan that contribute
to overcoming climate volatility and increasing resilience of farm enterprises.
NRM/
Sustainability
Balance of protection of unique biodiversity in Decisions affecting area to include relevant (local or state) area government systems
face of need to increase agricultural productivity.
Complex fire, feral and climatic values.
Risk-proportionate regulation (e.g. self-assessment plus random compliance auditing) where possible and appropriate.
Harmonisation between jurisdictions (local, state, national, international) where there is no significant loss of rights or increase in regulation.
Climate – extreme weather events, resilience, Continued R,D&E into adaptation and efficiencies for agriculture. Northern Agriculture CRC should be established to capture and share this tropical
cost of production insurance.
expertise. A Northern Australia Agricultural Development (AgNorth) CRC has benefits of being able to provide integrated research relevant to a wider
With respect to seasonality – a focus on resilience sector. Government to investigate failure of the insurance market to establish an input cost recovery insurance product for agriculture. Effectiveness of
is required particularly for infrastructure current drought policy settings should be reviewed to ensure effectiveness and to provide confidence and clarity around future government responses to
maintenance
ongoing drought events. Improved access to income assistance under hardship, urgent provision of increased rural financial counselling services and
increased access to concessional loans and lender support are all required.
Biosecurity. The frontline of quarantine and Provide incentives (taxation, social or other) to retain people in remote areas such as northern Australia as the front line in the identification and response
biosecurity is Northern Australia. There is a need to risks. Commit and adequately resource ongoing biosecurity risk assessment processes and implement actions. This is a very high priority to protect
for long term vision and investment – existing international market access and the delivery of future opportunity and elevated product valuation.
consequences of failure are high – e.g. Siam weed
and myrtle rust. Need to coordinate funding,
surveillance, awareness as well as response to
events.
Align with overarching biosecurity frameworks outlined in the National Plant Strategy developed by Plant Health Australia
http://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/national-programs/national-plant-biosecurity-strategy/ and Biosecurity Program developed by Animal Health
Australia http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/programs/ .
Engage with existing individuals/groups to boost biosecurity surveillance network.
Continue resourcing the effective Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) for border surveillance and early warning of unique biosecurity risks.
Partner with industry on implementing effective national programs such as Farm Biosecurity, Bee Pest Surveillance and Emergency Pest Response plans.
Continue to investigate the potential for remote sensing of biosecurity incursions.
Prevent biosecurity risks such as feral pigs and crop pests posing economic impacts on new irrigated agricultural developments in the Flinders and Gilbert
catchments through coordination of control programs and appropriate RD&E investment.
Minimise permanent loss or damage by resource Ensure the state agreed referral process to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee through the EPBC is operating effectively so that development
sector to agricultural land. With approximately impact decisions are made using the best available scientific knowledge and oversight. It is important that governments engage with the various
80% of Queensland now under CSG exploration stakeholders in finding an acceptable and sustainable land use solution. The government should prioritise in their policy settings the appropriate
12
permits the wider resource sector pose a consultation and negotiation with landholders around proposed resource development.
significant threat to the northern agriculture if
not managed appropriately.
Provide equity in land access and compensation, protection of above and underground water resources and appropriate restoration of environmental and
agricultural resources to prior condition at the end of a resource extractive activity.
Minimising mine water accumulation and the risk of damage to the environment resulting from mine water discharge, which is currently occurring in
Central Queensland ,but can have significant ramifications for other local water users
Innovation/R&D
Delivering the ongoing innovation required by Ensuring RDCs are responsive to the views of industry levy payers on research needs and act on those views e.g. primary producer Advisory Committees
northern agriculture to remain competitive and such as NABRC.
address north specific challenges
Ensure any northern-based government funded extension staff are using communication tools and approaches tailored to the local needs of industry. This
will ensure that systems are trialled and implemented in a way that is locally-relevant.
Provide tax incentives to invest in efficient technology such as for precision farming, telemetry, drones, etc. which will be particularly relevant for
northern Australia.
Infrastructure
Partner and co-fund initiatives identified in Meat and Livestock Australia’s Fire in Northern Grazing Lands RD&E Strategy 2014-2024 and the NABRC Beef
R&D prospectus.
Utilise existing research and lessons learnt. Significant amounts of research have already been undertaken on this topic. As a priority, conduct a
comprehensive literature review on existing research, ideas and action plans and barriers to industry adoption. This will then guide the identification of
the most significant R&D questions that will need to be addressed to successfully develop the north. This could include upscaling of existing bush food
options which are already adapted to the northern environment.
Seasonality leads to ‘islanded’ effect. Power and Investment into small communities having self-supplied systems (groundwater reliant or based on diesel fired power stations that can operate as peaker
water services cut off for frequently and plants.)
sometimes lengthy periods of time.
Conduct cost benefit analysis on extension of the national grid into the north west.
Poorly developed and harvested water assets
Identify and evaluate water capture and storage opportunities including dam developments, establishment of irrigation developments and new water
allocation policies for high priority agricultural water users.
Support the findings of the Northern Queensland Irrigated Agricultural Strategy Governance Committee focusing on the Flinders and Gilbert Rivers.
Incentives and extension support to implement mosaic irrigation for forage and other production on northern grazing lands which has the potential to
enhance beef production by 5-10pc (http://www.csiro.au/northernaustralia). This could include looking at the use of underground aquifers and costeffective (if available) direct reinjection of captured runoff water to manage high evaporation rates in the north.
Technology. Better technology is required to Targeted investment strategies to provide better connection.
facilitate export business, and improve mobile Ensure rural and regional centres have equal, or at least comparable, access as urban areas to telecommunications infrastructure, both mobile coverage
coverage and safety. There is currently nil- poor and NBN, and new technologies to help drive productivity gains and innovation
coverage across most areas in northern Australia.
This impacts on education and training, medical,
business and social function and attractiveness as
a place to live and work. Improved technology
must include landline, mobile and internet.
Locate relevant Commonwealth government offices in regional areas to use and ensure NBN capabilities and add services and critical mass to those
communities.
Roads. The majority of road infrastructure is Improve rail access - Improving access of grain to port facilities using the existing rail system through investing in modernising incompatible rail gauges,
aging, having been developed 30-40 years ago. developing rapid rail and grain storage depot loading capability, and encouraging privately owned ‘super depots’ and the upgrading of GrainCorp depots.
Significant bottlenecks exist and present barriers An example is providing facilities to rail freight cattle direct to the Roma saleyards and meat processing facilities. The rail service provider (Aurizon) and
in getting product to sale and supplies to remote the grain bulk handler (GrainCorp) negotiate service contracts and there is currently no incentive for them to negotiate a fair per tonne price as these
communities.
costs are passed straight back to growers. Policies to manage competition for rail access with other users must be effective.
13
Improve road access - Where rapid rail transport is unavailable then upgrades of major arterial roads is required so freight-efficient vehicles can easily
access processing facilities and ports and on and off loading minimised from farm gate to processing location or export point. Examples of this upgrading
include:
o Regional freight routes with B Double access and open access for ‘Truck and Dog’ vehicle combinations
o Thirty key sites have been identified for heavy vehicle access in Queensland with higher productivity combinations to be allowed, such as Type 2 Road
Trains from Mitchell to Roma and Clermont to Roma and Type 1 Road Trains from Gracemere to Rockhampton-based processers
o Upgrading the Gregory Highway between Clermont and Emerald, combined with improvements in cattle tick regulations, would save the cattle industry
around $75 million over five years and benefit other industries by reduced road traffic density.
o Bitumen sealing of the final 60km of the Hann Highway (also known as the Kennedy Development Road) between the Lynd Junction and Hughenden to
provide all-weather transport alternative to the flood-prone coastal Bruce Highway.
Improve efficiency of livestock transport, handling and processing infrastructure and synergies between cross-industry infrastructure assets. Investment
and priorities guided by the tools and models outlined in the CSIRO report “Livestock Industry Logistics: Optimising Industry Capital Investment and
Operations”, 2013 http://www.regional.gov.au/regional/ona/files/csiro_final_report_livestock_logistics.pdf. Reduction in the expenses associated with
land transport of livestock (currently 35pc of market price) would improve beef industry productivity.
Improve port access the Australian sea and air ports network (particularly on the Eastern Seaboard) requires transformational change with a range of potential improvements
such as:
o Boxed beef shipped to the U.S. must first go to the Port of Melbourne
o Beef produced and slaughtered in Queensland is primarily shipped via the Port of Brisbane despite being killed in Central or Northern Queensland
o The Port of Brisbane is the only port that has container export facilities. Other ports i.e. Gladstone, Mackay could also be expanded and offer these
facilities.
Ports will underpin healthy export industry
- reduces shipping time
- no Great Barrier Reef issues
- reduces trucking time in the north
Investment in ports as part of coordinated infrastructure plan (above) and examining alternatives, such as Weipa as a live export location.
Integrate access – The current Queensland government discussions with the beef industry around the ‘hub and spoke’ transportation infrastructure
concept should be expanded to include the broadacre grains and sheep and wool industries and their future requirements, and involve the Federal
Government as a key investor in delivering infrastructure solutions across Northern Australia.
Review of role, effectiveness and productivity of Infrastructure Australia and Regional Development Australia in delivering outcomes for agriculture.
Other
Focussing on one industry – i.e. tourism or Avoid government ‘picking winners’ though single industry investment plan.
resources or agriculture will leave regions
vulnerable, particularly to external shocks.
Current native title system.
Need for continuous improvements in native title and land claim related processes through State and Federal Native Title Act reviews.
Predominant tenure is leasehold which negatively
affects significant long term investment and also
can reduce profitability through variable and
political rent-setting cycles.
Human Capital. Provision of a literate, numerate
and skilled workforce. There are currently
variable services.
A healthy workforce. Access to hospital slightly
above the national average in competitiveness.
Creation of affordable freeholding opportunities and/or review of state-based leasehold regulations which outline rent, land use and other conditions on
pastoral and indigenous leases.
Proactive resolution of native title. Consider and implement recommendations from JCU report.
Maintain and extend post-school education facilities in Queensland and other regional centres to ensure young people don’t have to leave
region/community to study. Provision of distance education where campus facilities are not appropriate. Where skills shortfalls exist look at rurally
relevant visa options for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Provision of healthcare facilities including the ongoing government commitment to build more than eight GP Super Clinics across northern Australia for
primary health care (https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-gpsuperclinics-locations ). Address health risk behaviours
(smoking, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity or obesity) through targeted programs and in-community health care programs. Lack of coordination
of services and cooperation – single coordination body for health services. Limited tax incentives for dentists, doctors and other health professionals to
live in remote areas.
Improve access to rural medical practitioners by extending traineeships offered through the Rural Generalist Pathway to other regions across northern
Australia. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/ruralgeneralist/content/background.asp
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Continue the Australian Government Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme http://www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme to provide incentives for more
doctors to work in rural and remote areas.
Measurement of investment effectiveness over Collect datasets and update to determine investment effectiveness over time
time
Schooling.
Consider policy decisions on regional communities.
Transition of year 7 to boarding school and again
to tertiary studies
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