Agriculture

Rick Wilson: Given the highly dubious morality and legality of Animals Australia's actions and the privileged relationship they enjoy with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Slade Brockman, who's with me here in the chamber tonight, and I wrote to Minister Murray Watt. I will quote verbatim from this letter, which was sent to Murray Watt on 27 November 2023 ...

A new State Government-funded initiative will support the Limestone Coast timber and forestry sectors to address current skill gap shortages and develop the ‘workforce of the future’. Minister for Education, Skills & Training Blair Boyer officially opened the Mount Gambier Skills Centre this week, which will have a specific focus on timber and forestry, with an accompanying field-based role working directly with industry.

It’s disappointing the House of Representatives passed the Albanese Government’s Closing Loopholes Bill. We’ve consistently called out this Bill for being fraught with issues that it will make it harder and more expensive to create employment opportunities in farming. 

Dahlsens is one of more than 40 Gippsland and Victorian businesses connected to the forestry sector who have written a letter to the Premier, Jacinta Allan, urging a rethink of the policy to close the native forest industry, arguing the decision has several direct and perverse unintended consequences. The businesses represent all aspects of the forestry supply chain, from contractors through to sawmills, processors, retailers and furniture manufacturers, and have 40,000 voting members.

Livestock selling agents at Warwick are unhappy with the latest redevelopment plans for the Warwick Saleyards believing Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has backed away from an earlier proposal. Representatives of the Warwick Livestock Selling Agents Association are reported to have walked out of an information session organised by the Council to update interested parties on the planned upgrade.