CONTROVERSIAL reef regulations are ramping up to be a hot election topic in North Queensland with Canegrowers calling for the legislation to be repealed.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington this week wrote to 28 agricultural bodies, including the peak sugarcane growers group, promising to overhaul reef regulations if they win power at the October 31 election.
Ms Frecklington promised to work alongside farmers and environmental groups to strike a balance to ensure agriculture can thrive while protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
Canegrowers chairman and Mackay grower Paul Schembri said the LNP's early election commitment to restore the balance between measures to protect the reef and their impact on farmers was a step in the right direction.
"Putting farmers in the middle of solutions for the environment will help turn the dial back from the current bureaucratic overkill with reef regulations to a sensible and cooperative future that allows for a vibrant agricultural sector," Mr Schembri said.
"The LNP has been talking with us and made a commitment to work with us directly to map out a process for the review they have announced in a letter to all major farming groups.
"We believe the review should deliver a repeal of the 2019 ramped up regulations which are a bridge too far in red tape and government interference in everyday farming operations."
Canegrowers commissions a report in July which showed a $1.3 billion economic black hole would be created in Queensland if cane farmers were forced to abide by regulations as they stand.
The report showed that forcing cane growers to cut nitrogen applications to sugarcane crops up to 30 per cent below best practice levels would cost the economy $1.3 billion over 10 years.
The LNP's approach five key principals, and while Mr Schembri welcomed elements of the plan such as incentivising best practices, he was concerned about legislating minimum standards for growers.
"We look forward to the LNP's stated commitment to best practice being translated into ongoing government support for our voluntary industry program, Smartcane BMP, which has 70 per cent of cane farmland engaged already," Mr Schembri said.
"But we do have reservations about an indication that an LNP government would legislate minimum farm practice standards.
"Day to day farm operations should not be enshrined in law - we've always said this is a pathway to stifling innovation and engagement with farmers."
Mr Schembri said Canegrowers was calling on all political parties to commit to four measures ahead of the state election.
These include:
- Repealing 2019 reef legislation and regulations
- Making water quality plans and programs realistic and credible
- Overhauling the system that manages and scrutinises water quality research that is used to inform policy
- Supporting the sugarcane industry best management practice program, Smartcane BMP
- Moving functions related to agriculture from the Environment Department to a revitalised Agriculture Department.