2024 Election Priorities - Environment

QFF recognises that improved sustainability results are more effectively attained through innovative and voluntary on-farm practices, as opposed to relying on imposed regulations.

QFF calls for the equal prioritisation of support for Queensland farmers to maintain productivity and efficiency and work toward environmental outcomes on their farms.

We celebrate the achievements of farmers and growers who are utilising innovative approaches and best management practices (BMP’s) and provide support through a range of projects. We recognise that:

• Agriculture decarbonisation must be achieved with the sector, not imposed on the sector.
• Action on climate change is necessary to ensure food security, and action on climate change must not come at the expense of food security.
• It must not be taken for granted that the agriculture sector will do the heavy lifting to offset emissions from other sectors that carry on with business as usual.

Agriculture represents agriculture

• • Develop environmental policies through genuine consultation and collaboration with industry to support and advance the agriculture sector.
  • Provide clear strategic direction and increased collaboration to strengthen ecosystem leadership, cohesion and culture.

Great Barrier Reef

• • Recognise agriculture’s vital contribution to improving the Great Barrier Reef’s water quality and support farmers to continue to innovate.
  • Continue investment at or above current levels in voluntary-led Best Management Practice (BMP) programs.
  • Commit to a full review of the reef protection regulations.

Environmental offsets and emissions reductions

• • Review existing state-based guidelines to increase transparency of Queensland’s aggregated offset requirements and put in place frameworks and requirements that will support agricultural production, strong regional communities and meaningful environmental outcomes to avoid unintended consequences of poor climate policy.
  • Ensure all emission reduction strategies form part of an overarching climate adaptation strategy and are not developed in isolation.
  • Support the agriculture sector to be financially and operationally prepared for a carbon-constrained future.

Carbon and biodiversity

• • Support farmers to undertake carbon and biodiversity baselining for their enterprises.
  • Drive greater alignment and collaboration across all portfolios in government to ensure a holistic approach to maximising these emerging opportunities and minimise risk.
  • Provide incentives for farmers to manage protected areas on their properties that enhance their agricultural operations while also achieving environmental outcomes.