KEEP OFF THE GRASS: LABOR THREATENS NORTHERN CATTLE INDUSTRY

• Albanese Federal Government investigates listing buffel grass as Weed of National Significance.
• Buffel grass is an important fodder for cattle operations.
• Federal and State Coalition urges Labor to scrap the proposal.

The Albanese Labor Government’s probe into buffel grass is ill-advised, displays an extraordinary disconnect from agricultural issues and is another example of an administration focused on the wrong priorities as it attacks Australian food production.

Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald said attempts to declare buffel grass as a “Weed of National Significance” were another example of the Albanese Government focusing on the wrong priorities and helping activists instead of industry.

“Buffel grass was introduced in the 1920s as a productive fodder in Queensland and it did the job it was meant to do, becoming an important component of rangeland grazing,” she said.

“I saw a comment from a grazier recently who said ‘buffel grass should be declared a pasture of national significance’ and that’s true.

“Declaring buffel grass a weed would be catastrophic to graziers across Australia who rely on it for crucial fodder to keep their operations going.

“It also reduces erosion and dust storms.

“There is no justification for this move and I encourage everyone affected to make their thoughts known to the Federal Agriculture Minister, as I will be.”

Senator McDonald said the Queensland LNP Government was joining the campaign against the move.

“The whole process lacks transparency, its impacts are unknown and details about who would manage buffel grass are non-existent,” she said.

“There are suggestions biological controls may be implemented but that might harm native plants and animals, in addition to the economic prosperity of regional Australia.

“There are far too many questions about this process which is being undertaken without any consultation with industry, and I will be joining State Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett to ensure Queensland isn’t subjected to this outrageous and dangerous declaration.

“It’s also concerning that the Albanese Labor Government is targeting buffel grass while known pests such as pigs, canetoads, fire ants, fall army worm and navua sedge are still proliferating and causing enormous damage.

“It is yet another example of this government rushing to appease activists by attacking primary industries in this country, particularly beef production.

“Labor has banned live sheep export, it has banned net fishing in North Queensland, it has launched damaging water buybacks in the Murray Darling and it is happy to sacrifice farming land for solar and wind farms.

“The people of Australia should be extremely concerned that our food security is being undermined by its own government.”

ENDS