13 January 2026. Shane McCarthy, AgForce General President.
While it's been a great start to the wet season for a lot of people, it's also been far too much rainfall for many. Our thoughts and efforts are with producers who've had catastrophic rainfall in communities throughout Queensland's north-west.
There are echoes of similar events in 2019, and flooding levels in some areas are exceeding those seen in 2019. It's a terrible turn of circumstances for producers having to go through this ordeal again.
We really need governments to step up and step into these communities that have been affected so soon after recovering.
The blueprint that worked for 2019 needs to be rolled out again. What we don't need is too much paperwork and bureaucracy getting in the way. We just need urgent help now for producers and communities so they can recover.
While we praise both Federal and State representatives for the speed of their response, such as initial announcements of the Federal Government's $38 million dollar support package, we also need to make sure that we don't get bogged down in the detail.
We need to get unencumbered help out to these communities NOW. Without the burden of too much paperwork.
Authorities need to listen to people the on the ground and the local governments in these areas, as the shire councils know what's best for their communities.
McKinlay, Flinders, Richmond and Winton Shires are all under pressure responding to this enormous weather event, and we need to provide assistance as soon as possible.
It's great to see Premier David Crisafulli and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese make appearances out there. And also to see the follow up visits from other ministers statewide. Senator Susan McDonald deserves praise and acknowledgement for doing a power of work on her visits to affected areas, and bringing along with her the Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Leader of the National Party David Littleproud. It's this bipartisan approach that is needed in such a disaster.
From a state level, we've had visits from Member for Gregory and Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development Sean Dillon, and Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett along with his chief of staff and DG.
State Local Government and Water Minister Ann Leahy and Federal Shadow Skills and Training Minister Scott Buchholz have also been out there to have a look. It's good that they are getting out to where the devastation is to get a firsthand sense of the true impact of what's happening.
While producers never ask for handouts, it must be recognised that some of them would have only been just getting back on their feet after the flooding in 2019. To be hit again this bad or worse is a cruel blow. AgForce is working with relevant authorities to try and get the best possible outcome for these producers.
While it's good to see a quick response, more is needed. The main thing we need is flexibility. Flexibility from government departments particularly to cater to the needs of all industries in these trying times.
Because Every Family Needs a Farmer.
