Mackay growers lead charge in reef bill battle
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MACKAY farmers pleaded with the Australian senate to review controversial reef regulations they argue could devastate the embattled industry.
Farleigh grower and Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri told senators Queensland growers could lose $1.3 billion over ten years if the regulations were imposed.
The Canegrowers report estimated losses in the Mackay region could tally between $4.6 million and $19.3 million.
The main focus of the inquiry was directed towards how reef science was informing the policy and the transparency surrounding the data, which would directly impact Queensland coastal farms.
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Queensland Nationals Senator Susan McDonald said farmers were hurting far from the laboratories and testing sites.
"Farmers will often weep to me … They're saying 'the government doesn't believe in me anymore'," Senator McDonald said.
Mr Schembri said the industry was calling for collaboration, not regulation and penalties, when developing Great Barrier Reef protections.
"They've had a gutful of mindless bureaucracy," Mr Schembri said.
"Why do we want a bureaucratic baseball bat to wack cane farmers?"
"If the science is wrong we get wacked in an economic way."
Mr Schembri said farmers wanted to protect the "triple bottom line", ideally through an industry-led volunteer model.
"When government works with farmers it equals a huge community dividend," he said.
"A win for me, win for the community and a win for the government."
Other industry representatives said the burden to meet the regulations was unfairly levelled on farms.
But when Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters asked if the farmers would support the policy if the government provided support, the cane grower representatives said they would not.
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Scientists questioned over research
MARINE scientists were forced to defend their research, as senators peppered Queensland researchers with questions about the impacts of water quality on the reef.
Queensland Nationals Senator Susan McDonald questioned the amount of scientific engagement, suggesting the researchers were communicating through peer-reviewed journals rather than to farmers.
A James Cook University Trop Water representative said scientists had worked to "bridge that gap between the science and on farm activities".
The researchers repeatedly highlighted the need for immediate action for the reef.
An Australian Institute of Marine Science representative said water quality improvements would slow the "downward trajectory" of reef health.
"We can't do much about cyclones. Marine heatwaves will be with us for decades," she said.
"But the ability to recover, that's where water health comes into play."
Queensland One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts led the charge against the marine experts, claiming reports and datasets were not being properly assessed.
"I have issues with the credibility of the science," Mr Roberts said.
"Whenever I hear there's a consensus I think it's a smokescreen for a lack of data."
Professor Peter Ridd, who recently lost a federal challenge over his dismissal from JCU, also submitted to the inquiry.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee witnesses
Monday, July 27
Australian Institute of Marine Science
TropWATER, James Cook University
Australian Cane Farmers Association
Canegrowers
Burdekin District Cane Growers Limited
AgForce Queensland Farmers
Australian Banana Growers' Council
Growcom
Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance
Dr Peter Ridd
Green Shirts Movement Queensland
CSIRO
Bureau of Meteorology
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Independent Science Panel, Water Quality Improvement Plan
Queensland Department of Environment and Science
Tuesday, July 28
Canegrowers Herbert River
Canegrowers Cairns Region
Tully Canegrowers
Canegrowers Burdekin Ltd
Australian Marine Conservation Society
WWF-Australia
Reef and Rainforest Research Centre
Divers for Reef Conservation
Griffith University
Dr Natalie Jones
Dr Pedro Fedelman
Bundaberg Canegrowers
Canegrowers Proserpine
Canegrowers Innisfail
Canegrowers Mackay
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
