Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the LNP must explain their lack of action on water projects when Deb Frecklington was an assistant minister.
Dr Lynham said the Palaszczuk Government had locked in a $50 billion infrastructure guarantee as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.
“That includes investment in water projects,” he said.
“And because we’re continuing to manage the health response, we’ve already started delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.
“The only thing the LNP did while in government was to can a dam – the Connors River Dam – and prepare dams for sale.
“The LNP’s plan to undertake a statewide water asset audit is just code for preparing those assets for sale.”
Dr Lynham said the Palaszczuk Government was acting to support the food and fibre sector in the face of the worldwide impacts of COVID-19.
“We are freezing irrigation prices for a year and absorbing dam safety costs,” he said.
“This is part of ongoing measures to support Queensland business and industry through the COVID-19 crisis.
“Thousands of Queensland farmers will now see their irrigation water prices remain the same or fall next year.
“On average, irrigators will be roughly $400 a year better off in 2020-21 than this year.
“The government will monitor conditions over the next 12 months before it re-assesses prices for the following year.”
Dr Lynham said the Palaszczuk Government was already investing in water infrastructure to support local jobs.
“We have committed $848 million to water infrastructure across this state since 2017, delivering more than 1600 jobs to regional Queensland.
“And our recovery plan for the agribusiness and food sector plan includes:
• $5.5 million for digital transformation in agribusiness
• $5 million for reinvigorating agricultural trade relationships
• $2 million towards agribusiness diversification assistance.”
Read Queensland’s plan for economic recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic.
