Thursday, 19th March 2020
The Palaszczuk Labor Government has buckled to parliamentary and political pressure by the LNP after it was revealed that sustainability and first-start loans had been frozen, due to a lack of funding.
LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett questioned Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in parliament* and said it was common sense that the Government had bowed to pressure and made further funds available for Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) to distribute.
“Let’s be clear, the money should never have been allowed to dry up,” Mr
Perrett said.
“These
low interest loans support farmers looking to restructure and renew their
businesses and
are meant to be offered until the end of the financial year.
“Labor should never have abandoned farmers who were looking to rebuild after
the recent rain.
“Now more than ever, the Palaszczuk Labor Government needs to do everything possible to secure local jobs and support farming families across Queensland.
“Only the LNP represent rural and regional Queensland and will always go into bat for our farmers against this anti-farmer and anti-regions Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“I now call on Labor to
call off its $50 million in cuts to subsidies used by farmers in drought to
feed their starving livestock from 1 July 2020.”
* Page 668: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2020/2020_03_18_DAILY.pdf
