12 Nov 2024. Georgie Somerset, AgForce General President.
As I step back from the role of General President, with the sense of perspective that brings, I can see both challenges and opportunities that remain for AgForce. I know our organisation will continue to serve its members with both short term responses and long term solutions, understanding the importance of long form policy work that benefits those growing food and fibre.
Across our state, Agriculture continues to be the beating heart of most regional communities. One challenge is that it relies on many moving parts coming together, not least of which are the government departments that collaborate to ensure we deliver on crucial aspects such as first mile/last mile costs, affordable reliable energy, strong workforce development and reliable water.
The past six years while I was at the helm, there have been some green shoots breaking through, which is so encouraging. There’s now a real opportunity for a major breakthrough, with many MP’s in the new Queensland Cabinet living outside the south-east corner to connect and collaborate with. It is a welcome change.
Green shoots, like any good bioregion, need a whole range of plants and diversity surrounding them to build strength and sustainability. We need the different departments around the same table, focusing on agricultural enablers like water and transport in a coordinated way.
If we prioritise our core industry of Agriculture, and bring all the disparate areas into the conversation driven by Cabinet Ministers who understand the regions across Queensland that they serve, we really do have a significant possibility for positive change.
Agriculture continues to have enormous scope for growth in Queensland and this must be capitalised upon.
Let’s use the opportunity of a more geographically diverse cabinet to seriously invest in rural areas to help those communities thrive, to give refreshed hope to the next generation, and give confidence to future generations to invest, so we can watch what we know the regions are capable of come to fruition.
I for one, will be watching with keen interest and looking forward to the results.