2024 Election Priorities - Water - Queensland Farmers' Federation

Overview

The Queensland agriculture sector has some of the highest input costs in the world without receiving the protections and subsidies that are seen in other countries.

This has led Queensland farmers to be some of the most efficient and productive in the world. However, to remain internationally competitive in the export market and to maintain access to affordable fresh food for all Queenslanders, these costs must be addressed – particularly when it comes to water.

Inputs such as water and electricity are imperative to the efficiency and profitability of a farming enterprise. At the same time, excessive costs and a lack of long-term price certainty in these areas is also eroding investment and investment confidence in Queensland, and in the agriculture sector.

QFF's Position

QFF is calling for a coordinated and consultative approach for water planning and policy and regulation development to ensure water efficiency, affordability and reliability is stabilised for the agriculture sector.

The sustainability of the sector is reliant on this being achieved while we also work to find solutions that benefit the economy while respecting the needs of the environment.

Policy Actions

$24 million over 4 years to deliver on-farm water efficiency support for farmers.
Commit to affordable bulk and distribution water prices for SunWater and Seqwater schemes and provide funding for QFF to ensure irrigated agriculture can meaningfully respond to the pending price investigations.
Commit to dam safety being recognised and regulated in perpetuity as a public benefit with government to fund the cost.
Continue lower bound water prices, including zero rate of return and only pay economically prudent and efficient costs of operation, maintenance, and refurbishment.
Examine strategic challenges facing existing bulk and supply schemes, including greater protection of irrigation infrastructure and scheme modernisation.
Utilise a whole of government approach for the development and implementation of policy on the reuse of water from sewage treatment plants as a sustainable option for agricultural water.
Facilitate temporary water trading.
Develop a regulatory mechanism to facilitate future access to reserves and unused allocations in existing water plans which have set strategic targets for future planning projects.
Extend irrigator discounts due to cost-of-living pressures to help ease farm costs and ensure ongoing farm viability.
Minimise further water recovery in the Murray-Darling Basin and optimise investment in complimentary measures for environmental outcomes.
Maintain existing long-term water rights and prioritise these rights before other uses are considered.
Prioritise the finalisation of the business case for the restoration of Paradise Dam and announce a fully funded and committed timeline for the build commencement, and work with the Bundaberg community and irrigators to ensure water security is maintained during the planning and construction of the new dam wall.