The LNP has today announced a major boost to better manage our environment, doubling the funding of support to Natural Resource Management groups across Queensland to ensure the protection of our natural assets for generations to come.
An LNP Government would deliver seven key projects to effectively manage natural resources in a whole-of-landscape approach by working with local communities across Queensland.
The crucial areas to tackled under the project will be to:
- Halt the decline of Queensland’s Threatened Species
- First Nations Stewardship: Revitalise Land and Culture
- Protect and Restore Queensland’s Aquatic Environments
- Biosecurity: Safeguard Biodiversity, Agriculture and Human Health
- Improve Land Condition for Agriculture, Biodiversity and the Economy
- Climate Adaptation and Disaster Resilience
- State-wide Policy and Coordination
LNP Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Shadow Minister Sam O’Connor said more than doubling the funding for Natural Resource Management groups would protect Queensland’s incredible wildlife and crucial areas of biodiversity.
“Through on-ground land, water and biodiversity programs, and by working collaboratively with governments and other communities, regional Natural Resource Management organisations enhance the liveability and productivity of our towns and cities,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Natural Resource Management groups are trusted across our regions to deliver tangible, practical outcomes to effectively manage our land and soil, water and biodiversity.
“Queensland landholders face extremes of drought and flooding, increased biosecurity threats and new standard to access global markets.
“They need a government that works with them and supports them, but under this Labor government they have been forgotten.
“Labor’s failed record left Natural Resource Management groups high and dry with no meaningful funding; they don’t support regional Queenslanders and they don’t support practical environmental programs.”
This announcement follows the LNP’s commitment to beef-up biosecurity to tackle emerging threats to agriculture, with 100 additional biosecurity officers for the regions, a review of Labor’s closure of the frontline Cape York Biosecurity Facility and strengthening Labor’s failed fire ant eradication program.
It also sits alongside the LNP’s announcement of Queensland first agriculture innovation fund, designed to deliver cutting-edge insights and farming productivity to boost Queensland’s farm gate output to $30 billion by 2030.
LNP Candidate for Bundaberg Bree Watson said the commitment would safeguard our natural environment, as part of the LNP’s Right Plan for Queensland’s Future.
“The LNP is about genuine action to protect our environment and these groups are on the ground, working in partnership with landholders and locals to get the best outcomes,” Ms Watson said.
“Just one such project to directly help Bundaberg will be delivering heatwave response and drought resilience to 200 horticultural enterprises, alongside First Nations fire management over 100,000 hectares in the Burnett Mary region.
“Under Labor, Queensland has the lowest proportion of protected areas of anywhere in Australia, but the LNP is safeguarding our environment for future generations.
“Our biosecurity and investment in the future of our vital natural areas should not take a backseat because of Labor’s billions in budget blowouts that leave nothing for rural and regional natural resources.”
Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland Chair Julie Boyd said the organisation looked forward to working closely with the LNP to deliver the best possible outcomes for nature and for the economy.
“The LNP has committed to invest in a program of on ground activity that will deliver significant outcomes for threatened species, waterways and coasts, sustainable agriculture, disaster recovery and resilience, biosecurity and engaging First Nations people,” Ms Boyd said.
“I applaud the LNP for this forward-thinking investment into regional jobs, food security and disaster recovery and resilience.”
Ms Watson said Queenslanders needed a fresh start, and the LNP’s plan to more than double Natural Resources Management funding was part of restoring a government that protects our environment by investing in conservation and biosecurity.
“Queenslanders must show Labor the door in 2024, to ensure the right focus on delivering the programs, services and communities for our state,” she said.
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