Decision on backpacker tax a win for region

TODAY’S announcement by Treasurer Scott Morrison that a backpacker tax of 19 cents in the dollar will be introduced next year, rather than a proposed 32.5 cents, is a win for our regional economy.Those in the horticultural, agricultural and tourism sectors in this region had legitimate concerns about the effects of a backpacker tax and I was happy to champion their cause and seek a fairer deal to ensure that the backpacker workforce was not decimated.

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Register shows who owns our land

7 SEPTEMBER 2016: The first report from the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land was released by the Liberal National Government today. I have long been an advocate for the register and this report provides the basic transparency needed to ensure oversight and confidence in agricultural investment.

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Mackay's One Billion Dollar Man

28 JULY 2016: With the support of the Liberal National Government, I am driving a one billion dollar investment to create more than a thousand jobs for Mackay over the next three to four years.

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Where’s the commitment from Labor?

A lack of commitment from Labor could lead to a net gain of zero for the region if the unthinkable happens and a Shorten Labor Government is elected.This region will miss out unless Labor stumps up and puts some commitments on the table for the people of this region.Labor needs to commit to at least the same funding that the Liberal National Government has committed to.The Coalition has a number of election commitments on the table already.

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$8 million in funding flows to water projects

FUNDING is set to flow to create jobs, provide water security and open up vast tracts of agricultural land with Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen welcoming announcements this morning that pre-construction planning work will begin for the Urannah Dam, the raising of the Burdekin Dam Wall, the Burdekin Haughton Channel upgrade, Hell’s Gate Dam and to upgrade water infrastructure for Clermont.Today’s announcement makes all the hard work fighting for local jobs worthwhile.

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Decision on backpacker tax delivers certainty

The backpacker tax is gone.The Federal Liberal National government is deferring the tax for six months pending a review which is expected to come up with a lower, more competitive tax rate.I met with Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president Carl Walker in Bowen this morning to share the news, which will provide fruit and vegetable growers with greater workforce certainty.The backpackers I spoke to were also happy to hear about it.We definitely need to ensure that our growers have the workers they need to harvest their crops, but we also need to ensure that as many Australians as possible have the opportunity to take up work on farms.

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MP pushes for Urannah Dam funding

THIS morning I met with key proponents for the Urannah Dam which would provide water to underpin growth and development in the Mackay, Whitsunday, Isaac and Burdekin regions to discuss the push for funding for planning and design of the dam.I hope to see funding flow when the successful applicants for the Liberal National government's National Water Infrastructure Development Fund are announced.I have done everything in my power to get the Urannah Dam on the radar of those in Canberra, and I am hopeful we will be able to start work on the project through the $25 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.There’s funding which will be specifically directed to Northern Australia, and the planning and design work for Urannah Dam is in the running for this.

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Labor plan a threat to farmers’ livelihoods

AS if farmers don't have enough to deal with when it comes to tree clearing laws, we now have Federal Labor pollies from city seats announcing fancy plans to introduce more ‘green police’.Bill Shorten has announced a plan to overrule state tree clearing policies, and send in Federal 'green police to tell farmers what they can and can't do on their own land.So we would have jumped-up federal bureaucrats flashing badges, stopping landholders from doing the work needed to run a normal farming enterprise.Only city slickers like Bill Shorten would come up with such a restrictive and blatantly unfair policy.

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Green light for food labelling a win for shoppers, farmers and workers

The agreement by the states and territories to sweeping reforms on country of origin food labelling is great news for Aussie shoppers, Aussie farmers and Aussie workers.This is yet another great outcome for Australians from the $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, crafted and delivered by The Nationals.The new food labelling system will give Australian consumers the clarity they deserve, without imposing an excessive burden on businesses.It’s also a boost for Aussie farmers, and will secure jobs in agriculture and food processing for Aussie workers.

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Empowering businesses will create jobs

Businesses looking to export are the big winners from a new Coalition Government initiative to provide quick and easy access to trade information.A new FTA Portal will help local businesses take full advantage of Australia’s free trade agreements with the three north Asian powerhouse economies of China, Japan and South Korea.Opportunities for small and medium businesses to diversify are crucial right now and this tool will help make that happen.

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New NQ state could be best in country

THE idea of a separate state for North Queensland should be determined by a referendum of North Queenslanders only, and I will write to all MPs, senators and mayors who represent areas above the Tropic of Capricorn to invite them to be part of a concerted push for such a move.This issue has been talked about for too long and what we really need now is some action.The people of the north deserve a fair hearing on this, and a group of influential state, federal and local government leaders would be well placed to push for a referendum on the formation of a new state of North Queensland.

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Concerns of horticulture industry heard: Backpacker tax to go! By George Christensen

The concerns of those in the horticultural industry have been heard, and the plan to introduce a 15% flat rate of tax for backpackers will now face a full review.Tourism Minister Richard Colbeck has announced a cross-department review so that we can take a long hard look at the issues surrounding the so-called ‘backpacker tax’ to make sure that we do not disadvantage growers who have been relying on backpackers to harvest their crops.I have had numerous phone calls and meetings with those in the horticultural industry, and I agreed to support the Bowen Gumlu growers in their push for a 15% flat rate of tax, rather than the proposed 32.5c tax for every dollar earned for those on working holiday visas.

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Sugar, it’s sweet with me

The push for a sugar tax in Australia by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was not one that would win him any accolades in the sugar-growing regions of Queensland.I’m no poster boy for health and fitness, but sugar is not the only nutrient to blame for obesity and that point has been made previously by the Dieticians Association of Australia.Introducing a sugar tax would cost jobs in this part of the world, and that’s the last thing we need right now.Operations like the Mackay Sugar Refinery which produces sugar purely for the domestic market, as well as our sugar mills and even cane farms would face job cuts if such a plan was introduced.

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$1 million for work on the Don

CLOSE to $1 million in Federal Liberal National Government funding will be directed towards the issue of gully erosion and the resulting sand build-up in the Don River.This announcement today by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt is a big win for Bowen, as the issue of clearing the Don has been a concern for a number of years.The $962,550 of funding, under the Reef Trust Gully Erosion Control Programme, is a targeted investment that addresses the considerable challenge that gully erosion presents to the Great Barrier Reef.

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Growers keen to consider medicinal cannabis crops

I will seek further clarification on the process of growing medicinal cannabis following a meeting with about six cane farmers interested in the possibilities of diversifying into the field.Though it's early days in the formation of the process, I am keen to ensure growers in this region are early contenders for clinical trials.We already have the runs on the board in terms of plant cultivation, and we have the right natural resources in terms of good fertile soil and plenty of water, so we have a lot to gain from the introduction of a new crop like this.There are a number of growers who are interested, and a couple who have done some research on what might be involved.

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Helping those keen to grow medicinal marijuana

I will be meeting with people in the region who have expressed an interest in growing medicinal cannabis, following today’s historic passage of legislation to legalise the process.Amendments passed to the Narcotic Drugs Act will ensure that people who would benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana will have access to a safe, legal and reliable supply.I have had calls from growers in the region who are keen to diversify into the production of medicinal marijuana and I will be presenting their case to the Health Minister Sussan Ley.Our region has good fertile soil and plenty of water, so we have a lot to gain from the introduction of a new crop like this.

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