Pauline Hanson's One Nation, 1998 Queensland State Election

Primary Industries Policy

Preamble

Pauline Hanson's One Nation, recognising that Queensland and Australia have almost totally rural-dependent economies, is committed to providing an environment conducive to vigorous and viable primary (including rural small business), forestry, and mining industries. We recognise the need to encourage and support secondary and manufacturing industries and believe that the strength of primary industry is the cornerstone of any sustainable secondary/manufacturing industry development.

One Nation recognises the history, the tradition, and the familial attachment to rural Queensland, and the enormous contribution to our Nation's economic and social well being which is attributable to rural and regional Queenslanders.

One Nation strongly supports the Right to Farm.

The Role of State Government

1. One Nation is committed to:-

• providing adequate infrastructure to enable rural Queensland to achieve its full productive potential;
• maintaining constant pressure on the federal government to resist economic rationalism and globalisation; and
• supporting a Department of Primary Industries:
• with a strongly practical focus to provide research and extension services which deliver real benefits and efficiencies to the industry; with field staff located in regional areas where they will provide maximum benefit;
• • with a field staff/administrative staff ratio under constant review to maximise extension output; and
  • with a high degree of flexibility, and the ability to seek, and to be receptive to, input from practical primary producers in the private sector.

  ensuring that regional disincentives are eliminated:-

  • Communication and electricity charging policies are to retain parity with urban services.
  • Regional health and education opportunities are to be within practical limitations, of a standard commensurate with, and as accessible as those provided to urban areas.
  • Emergency services/police are to be adequately manned and equipped.
  • Rural, arterial, and main roads to be adequate, and rail facilities are to be accessible and cost effective.
  • Support registration concessions.
  • Investigate options to decrease or remove land tax/payroll tax.

  Lobby the federal government to provide incentives by way of the following:-

  • diesel (on farm usage) rebate retained.
  • realistic support in times of drought and other natural disasters.
  • interest rates concessions.
  • conferring with local government, via the Dept. of Local Government and Planning, with a view to removing rural rating inequities.

2. One Nation will take action to ensure adequate water resources by the construction of dams in appropriate locations best able to serve the needs of rural communities. One Nation will pursue the allocation of funding for dam construction as a high priority.

Producers -Producer Organisations

3. One Nation recognises the importance of:-

• peak rural industry bodies, and will actively encourage and consult with them.
• non-aligned individual producers. One Nation will encourage, via its elected representatives, feedback from all primary producers, many of whom have a wealth of practical knowledge and industry insight to contribute to the decision making process.
• co-operatives and producer marketing bodies.

One Nation will eliminate the National Competition Policy elements which currently inhibit or prevent such structures. Marketing/Trade

4. One Nation will:-

• provide strong support for marketing initiatives for both export and domestic product.
• oppose any federal government's involvement in multi-lateral trade agreements and treaties without full and open consultation.
• identify and counter artificial trade barriers. (examples: H.G.P. prohibition to EEC beef markets, Helix levels restricting access to Japan, and other pesticide level restrictions to U.S.A.).
• support and foster bi-lateral trading arrangements.
• adopt a stronger negotiating role to achieve outcomes more beneficial to Queensland exporters. One Nation believes that current muli-lateral agreements have not necessarily served our interests. We believe we have become a 'soft touch' and must adopt a stronger position in all trade negotiations. (An example is the present situation where China is reneging on pre-existing wool contracts, and buying strongly at the new lower price levels.)
• ensure that the recently revised federal legislation on labelling of imported product stops any misuse or circumvention of 'Australian made' labelling regulations and intentions.

Tariffs/Quotas

5. One Nation will insist that the federal government must provide protection for primary (and manufacturing) industries by way of tariffs:

• at least equivalent to those of our trading partners in respect of reciprocal same product trade.
• at sufficient level to prevent unfair competition from, subsidised, sub- standard, or predatory priced imports.
• at sufficient level to preclude competing imports from countries which provide no reciprocal export opportunities.

Quarantine

6. One Nation will insist that the federal government:

• re-focus the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS), with a greater emphasis on its primary role as an agency to protect Australia from the import of pestilence and disease.
• increase funding to protect, and capitalise upon, the relatively disease free status provided by our insular location.
• ensure that export inspection services provide a multi-tiered level of export certification appropriate to the standards of the recipient country.

7. One Nation will require all existing state programs to protect Queensland from the import of pestilence and disease.

Foreign Ownership

8. One Nation will lobby the federal government to:

• absolutely oppose the M.A.I. and any treaty or agreement which seeks to devolve or diminish Australia's sovereignty.
• support mechanisms to curtail foreign control.
• support joint venture arrangements with the controlling interest to remain with the Australian joint venture partner.
• support measures to restrict foreign ownership of land.
• establish controls to prevent the establishment of monopolies and cartels and vertical integration to the point of market domination and manipulation.

Finance

One Nation will lobby the federal government to support the establishment of a government sponsored Australian national bank whose primary purpose would be low interest funding to primary producers and rural industries for income producing infrastructure development, soil and water conservation measures, and stock and equipment. One Nation will negotiate with the federal government to obtain special financial packages to be provided in times of severe drought and natural disasters.

Environment

One Nation supports sustainable land use practices and achievable measures to repair past environmental damage. Department of Primary Industries research and extension functions will be deployed to ensure that maximum long term, sustainable productive levels are achieved.

Incentives

One Nation will support State funding via local government for landcare projects and will pressure the federal government for tax incentives for farmer funded environmental protection projects.

Lobby federal government for tax incentives and rebates to be provided where it can be demonstrated that projects to be undertaken are practical and will produce outcomes beneficial to environmental sustainability.

Animal Welfare

13. One Nation recognises that those involved in animal husbandry are responsible and caring, and are fully aware that ill-treated or neglected animals result in reduced profitability.

14. One Nation will support practical and sensible intervention where ill treatment or neglect can be demonstrated.

The Beef Industry

15. One Nation is committed to support and assist Queensland's beef/cattle producers. The beef industry is Queensland's major rural commodity, and Queensland is the primary beef producing state. The domestic consumption levels of beef have suffered a major decline in terms of consumption as a percentage of production. This has increased the exposure of market price levels to the vagaries of the export market with disastrous results. Much of the decline in domestic consumption has been caused by inefficient promotion and a lack of counter strategies to the anti red meat food fads, as well as competition from cheap import beef, port and chicken products.

16. One Nation will:-

• provide incentives for small viable slaughtering operations and retail butchers to encourage increased competition, and to provide the consumer with increased options and service;
• preserve the right of cattle producers to lease crown land and state forest for grazing, as per current arrangements;
• review the workers compensation and common law liabilities in the producer and processor sectors, with a view to achieving reduced costs; and
• ensure that rail and road infrastructure is of a standard sufficient to provide efficient and cost effective transport pre and post slaughter.

17. One Nation will also exert pressure on the federal government to:-

• protect the industry by the introduction of tariffs and realistic labelling laws.
• seek funding via Meat Livestock Authority (MLA) for domestic market promotion.
• support the introduction of a two tiered export accreditation system to enable abattoirs to be more competitive in exporting to lower quality markets.
• reduce the role of AQIS in the export sector thereby achieving a reduction in charges and allowing AQIS to refocus on its primary role of monitoring imports.
• investigate industry funding of DPIE/MLA by producer levies with a view to preventing excessive accumulated reserves. Rather than accumulated reserves, there must be a reduction in the level of the Transaction Levy.

Dairying

18. One Nation is committed to preserving the viability of the Queensland dairying industry. Dairying is a major contributor to Queensland's rural economy, being a large direct employer and also having a high multiplier factor. Many Queensland communities are almost totally dependent upon the dairy industry.

19. One Nation absolutely opposed any National Competition Policy driven attempt to disband the supply management system, and supports the distribution of growth access equitably across all dairy farmers.

20. One Nation supports the retention of the regulated farm gate price of milk.

21. One Nation supports the existing structure of the Queensland Dairy Association (Q.D.A).

22. One Nation will prioritise funding for upgrading of infrastructure to ensure:-

• efficient road and rail for transport of milk and value added products to markets,
• adequate electricity supply to farms and factories, and
• sufficient water storage capacity where a need can be identified.

Fishing

23. One Nation recognises the important contribution made to the Queensland economy by the Fishing industry and also the important role of providing high quality, affordable seafood to the consumer.

24. One Nation also recognises the need from a recreational point of view, and for its contribution to tourism, to ensure that a sufficient level of fish stocks are reserved and nurtured for recreational fishing.

25. One Nation believes that regulation of the industry must be kept to minimum, but must address areas of potential conflict between the interests of commercial vs. recreational fishing.

26. One Nation supports the concept of BRD's and TED's and restricting trawler bycatch to a percentage of total catch appropriate to that license, but will introduce an additional license category to allow targeting of certain species, provided that the licensee can demonstrate a long history of targeting that species, and that such trawling be restricted to offshore areas to avoid impact on small operators and amateurs.

27. One Nation supports continuing research into management of the natural resource, and continued restocking in dams and estuaries.

28. Part of such management would include monitoring of catches by both professional and recreational fishermen, with bag limits, seasonal closures, size restrictions, and restricted areas to be kept to the minimum level at which the fish population can be deemed sustainable.

29. One Nation will seek recognition of whiting, bream, and flathead as recreational species, with only limited commercial bi-catch permitted.

30. Funding will be provided for voluntary license buybacks, especially in estuarine and beach operations, and increased fingerling production.

31. One Nation will support both saltwater and freshwater aquaculture projects by way of incentives.

32. One Nation will protect the right of recreational fishermen to fish in national parks.

Forestry

33. One Nation recognises the enormous value to the Queensland economy of the forestry industries (planted and native), hardwood, pine, and cypress, and the value adding sectors of milling, paper and particleboard.

34. The industry is characterised by high employment opportunities, and considerable value adding and multiplier factors.

Supply

35. Due to high capital costs and high fixed operating costs, downsizing of mills and other processing plants has a devastating impact on viability. For that reason One Nation supports continued sustainable access to State forests and opposes any artificial and unnecessary reduction of access under the Regional Forest Agreement process or Code of Practice. One Nation supports financial incentives and right to harvest guarantees to encourage farm forestry on private land.

Research 36. One Nation will:-

• ensure that the focus of the Queensland Forest Service is on research and management practices to ensure maximum production and sustainability of state forests.
• encourage research into waste minimisation, by-product utilisation, and value adding.
• remove restriction on chipping of residue from log harvesting.

Ancillary Uses

37. One Nation will encourage ancillary and complementary usage of state forests. Cattle grazing, bee keeping etc., can be mutually beneficial to timber production.

38. One Nation will encourage recreational uses for state forests, but not to the point of excluding timber production and harvesting.

Environment

39. One Nation will ensure that timber production and harvesting in state forests is, at all times conducted on a sustainable basis, and that management practices are in place to minimise environmental damage.

Grain

40. One Nation recognises the importance of the grain industry, its vast downstream value adding industries, and its multiple support sectors as a major contributor to the Queensland economy, and in particular, the employment opportunities provided by this, and associated industry.

Marketing

41. One Nation will continue to support the existing industry structure, and the single desk selling arrangement.

Incentives

42. One Nation will support fuel and registration concessions.

Research - Development - Extension

43. One Nation will support joint Industry/Government funding for research and development programs and DPI extension services.

Quarantine - Pests

44. One Nation will pressure the Federal Government to refocus AQIS, with a view to ensure that imported grain is subject to stringent inspection and treatment procedures to prevent the import of pests, diseases, and noxious weeds.

45. One Nation will support Government funding of eradication and/or control programs to curb the spread of problem weed and animal pests, and diseases, which are an industry or regional threat.

Pig Meats

46. One Nation recognises the importance of the pig meat industry to the Queensland economy and to the economic viability of many rural communities. Accordingly we will demand that the Federal Government immediately implements tariff and/or quota protection against cheap imports from Canada and Denmark.

47. One Nation supports the current industry structure, and will consult with peak industry bodies Pork Council of Australia and Queensland Pork Producers Organisation, with a view to establishing an immediate short term rescue package, pending a more permanent solution to the industry's problems.

Incentives

48. One Nation supports fuel and registration concessions.

Research - Development - Extension

49. One Nation will support joint Industry/Government funded research and development, and DPI extension services.

Sheep and Wool

50. One Nation recognises the contribution of the sheep and wool industry to the economy of Queensland and Australia. Further, the historical significance of the industry in the development of our Nation is also recognised. One Nation acknowledges the fact that in vast areas of Queensland, sheep and wool production is the 'highest and best use', and in fact, the only real option for some properties. Accordingly, we are committed to strategies to ensure the ongoing viability of the industry.

Structure and Funding

51. One Nation will support joint industry and government funding for research and promotion, with the control of the industry to be in the hands of producers. All R & P taxes and levies shall be monitored and reduced as soon as practicable, with minimum funds being transferred into accumulated reserves.

Marketing

52. One Nation supports the single desk-selling concept, and will consult with peak industry bodies to establish optimum strategies to reduce the wool stockpile.

Live Exports

53. One Nation supports initiatives to promote live sheep exports, but will seek the support of the Federal Government to ensure that no pure bred merino sheep or genetic material is exported for breeding purposes.

Small Crops

54. One Nation recognises the contribution to the state economy and to many regional economies provided by the small crops industry, and also the vital role of providing quality fresh and processed product to the community.

55. One Nation will seek agreement on uniform national registration of agricultural chemicals to allow farmers early access to new and improved products. We will overhaul the quality assurance requirements many of which are unnecessarily onerous and destroying price competitiveness in the industry.

56. We support diesel and registration concessions.

Sugar

57. One Nation recognises the major contribution made by the sugar industry to the Queensland economy, and to the viability of so many Queensland communities. We will lobby the federal government most strongly to ensure the industry is not impacted upon by the economic rationalist policies which have led to National Competition Policy and the mythical 'level playing field'.

58. We support diesel and registration concessions.

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