"Unlike Labor, which thinks agriculture is old world, as a Party, the LNP will always stand up and fight for agriculture in this State – to fight for the people who provide food and fibre for a growing world," he said.
"No matter where you go in Queensland, you meet people who are doing amazing things on the land, and plenty of them live and work in this region.
"We are incredibly lucky to live in an area which provides some of the best produce in the world, including small crops, tree crops and sugar.
"Our primary producers create jobs and wealth in our local area and they deserve the support and respect of government, not to be used and abused as they have been by the Bligh Labor government.
"Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the abolition of the Department of Primary Industries, which was dismantled by Labor along with the extension services it provided to help raise farm productivity.
"In another blow, Bligh Labor has failed to stand up for our agricultural industries against the carbon tax and the impact it will have on farm businesses when the cost of refrigeration, irrigation, processing and nutrient inputs all increase.
"Gone are the days when the State Government showed faith in our farming sector by building beef roads, dams and irrigation schemes.
"Under an LNP government this will all change. Agriculture will once again have its own department and be valued for the economic and social contribution it makes to Queensland.
"We will give this important industry a strong voice in Cabinet and ensure it is very clearly recognised as an important part of Queensland's future."
