On the surface, the Labor government's election commitment to discount irrigation water prices was a win for farmers, but a closer examination yields murky waters.
Three months on from the announcement that farmers who buy water from state-owned irrigation schemes would have their charges cut by 15 per cent, while horticulture growers would have their charges cut in half, no further information has been provided as to how it will be implemented.
Questions about what crops fall under the definition of horticulture, what mechanism will be used to determine the discount a farmer will receive in the instance they grow both horticulture and non-horticulture, and who will be responsible for the expense of implementing such a mechanism remain unanswered.
A Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water spokesman said "implementation and eligibility criteria are currently being worked through".
"We want to ensure that the benefits of this policy reach local communities and create local jobs," they said.
"We will maintain our communication with irrigation customers once that level of detail becomes available."
What is certain though, "discounts will apply to the proposed price path as recommended by the QCA in their latest irrigation price investigation, which will take effect form July 1, 2021".
Essentially, for most farmers this will mean prices are increased, then discounted, but they'll still be paying more than they are at present.
Meanwhile, the government has been consistent in its messaging that "farm businesses will help underpin our economic recovery".
"Reducing irrigation water costs means more crops, more jobs and more value," Water Minister Glenn Butcher said.
"Our investment in half price water for fruit and vegetable growers will help to stimulate jobs in this labour-intensive sector.
"For our fruit and veg growers, it means increased productivity and adding more jobs to the thousands of harvesting, picking and processing jobs that are usually associated with these crops."
But the Queensland Farmers' Federation said this smacks of inequity, and has called on the state government to extend the 50pc price reduction to all irrigation customers.
QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis said it was wrong to favour one agricultural commodity, or regional community, over another by selectively providing favourable pricing.
"Given that the mainstream definition of horticulture includes fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers, turf (grass), and nursery products, all of QFF's members including sugarcane and cotton producers are categorised as horticultural producers," Dr Davis said.
"Additionally, providing the two level of discounts in a transparent and robust manner would be extremely difficult and expensive for the government and its corporations.
"Water supply corporations do not keep definitive customer records regarding water usage by crop-type and it is operationally unfeasible to do so, given multiple cropping cycles in a year, crop rotation strategies, and irrigation of multiple commodities from single offtakes."
Opposition water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington said the lack of detail was "ringing alarm bells".
"While the LNP will always support any policy that delivers cheaper water for farmers, it has always believed that water price discounts should be for all - regardless of what crop farmers choose to farm," she said.
"Queenslanders cannot afford for something as important as water to be bungled by this Labor government who is making it up as they go along."