Federal and state election policies

Each election, AgForce releases policy publications detailing key policies to be implemented by an incoming government to best promote prosperity across the agriculture sector. The 2019 Federal Election policy outline highlighted four key areas: connected communities, healthy environments, climate risk, and market opportunities.

AgForce policy development

The development and advocacy of policies that advance member's interests are key roles for AgForce as a representative body. It is a strong focus for the AgForce Board who decide policy direction and are ultimately responsible to the members for outcomes.

To support these efforts, once elected the Board prioritises key general policy areas for AgForce. These are resourced with dedicated and skills-based policy committees receiving dedicated policy staffing, and made up of volunteer chairs and members.

The committees consider current and future issues and develop policy priorities to work on which must be endorsed by the Board. The committees also assess and develop relevant policy, consider member resolutions and advise and support the Board's policy decision-making process.

Important policy areas that are not prioritised by the Board are still resourced and addressed as required, but do not have a dedicated committee. These include issues such as land tenure, safety, firearms, reef and industrial relations.

To ensure policy development, positioning and advocacy is consistent, coordinated and continuously improving, a Policy Coordination Group has also been formed. This group is chaired by a member of the Board and made up of policy committee chairs and staff. AgForce Board members and commodity Presidents may also attend meetings.

Learn more about our committees.

Developing a strategic vision for broadacre agriculture and food production

Healthy food and high-quality fibre are essential inputs to life. Securing their supply for the people of a nation is a primary task for government. It is vital that governments and other stakeholders adopt policies that work towards enabling our nation's primary producers to continue to sustainably produce high-quality food and fibre into the future.

An important activity for AgForce is ensuring that the interests of Queensland's broadacre primary producers are effectively considered by governments when they are developing long term strategic plans and policies that affect our member's business operating environment.

As a member of the National Farmers Federation (NFF), AgForce has representation on national policy committees to provide the perspective of Queensland's broadacre industries into the development of strategic policy positions and in advocacy efforts to governments.

AgForce also engages directly with the Australian Government to promote the interests of our members to ensure there is a clear policy framework supporting agriculture. Informed by member feedback, we have made submissions to the Australian Government's Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, Northern Development White Paper and past national food plan processes. These submissions have highlighted the need to lift on-farm profitability as a key measure of success and as a key solution to many of the challenges facing Australian agriculture.

Other strategic solutions included increasing productivity through increased RD&E funding and adoption of technology and improved practices; new ways to access capital; increased market access and transparent supply chains; reliable and efficient transportation networks; and ongoing streamlining of regulations and removal of unnecessary red tape.

To view AgForce's submissions on strategic agricultural development planning please log in as a member.