Longreach and Emerald keys should be handed to AgForce

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud has supported calls for the Queensland Government to hand over the keys to Longreach and Emerald agricultural colleges to the farm industry.

 

AgForce has called for the keys to be handed over, saying this could be an opportunity to reform and modernise education and skills available to rural Queenslanders.

 

“If Labor cut vital education services in Brisbane, people would be outraged,” Minister Littleproud said.

 

This is the most callous act in living memory Mr Littleproud said. While the rest of the country is trying to build up these drought ravaged communities the state government is trying to tear them down.

“The Queensland Government needs to hand the keys to the colleges back to people who care about agriculture and our food supply.

 

“Queensland Labor wrote off $5 million for a Sunshine Coast TAFE. They should hand over the keys to Longreach and Emerald and help fund them to get them going.

 

“Labor should have consulted with AgForce and other farm groups before killing these colleges.

 

“Our farmers grow our food and without agricultural colleges, we don’t have the next generation coming through to grow that food. Brisbane folk eat the food we grow them out here in country Queensland and we need them to fight for us on this one.

 

“These colleges could be teaching our young people the sustainable farming methods of the future. Instead they’ll sit empty, if Labor gets its way.

 

“Then there’s the job losses from these small rural communities.

 

“Brisbane understands it can’t function without rural Queensland. We supply the food and a good portion of the budget. We need Labor to understand that too.”