Ministerial meetings and forums

On 10 March 2026, the third meeting of the Agriculture Energy Water Council was held under the Crisafulli Government. This Council serves as a key forum for Ministers, senior government officials, and primary industry leaders to address critical challenges and develop collaborative solutions.

The meeting was attended by the Honourable David Janetzki MP, Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Home Ownership, and the Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government, Water, Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, alongside representatives from industry organisations such as the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Cotton Australia, AgForce Queensland, CANEGROWERS, and Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers. The Council welcomed Scott Kompo-Harms, the newly appointed CEO of Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers, as its newest member. Minister Leahy chaired the meeting on behalf of the Honourable Tony Perrett MP, Minister for Primary Industries, who joined via teleconference due to adverse weather conditions in his Electorate.

The Queensland Treasurer opened agency and industry updates by addressing fuel shortages and rising rural prices, calling on the Commonwealth Government to develop a national plan. Industry representatives highlighted concerns about fertiliser shortages, while other updates covered a review of energy tariffs, challenges with renewable energy transfers, land tax change consultations, and the irrigation discount rebate scheme available through QRIDA.

Disaster recovery updates and discussions focused on improving cumulative impact claims, local event eligibility thresholds, pre-approval relief processes, and reducing evidence duplication for QRIDA applications. Industry stakeholders also advocated for enhanced disaster preparedness measures, lower insurance premiums, stamp duty relief, flood mitigation initiatives, and greater adoption of crop monitoring and technology.

Land use issues were a key focus, with the Department of Primary Industries finalising an agroeconomic subsidence impact report and progressing a pilot project with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation to assess land use constraints, carbon farming, and offsets. Other discussions covered skilling and training needs, forklift training requirements, and visa arrangements for the horticulture sector. Industry raised concerns about fatigue management regulations, 38-hour work limits, and break requirements, advocating for "surge flexibility" during harvest periods and a review of codes to support seasonal industries.

Biosecurity Queensland outlined its collaboration with peak bodies on business risk management, earning industry praise for initiatives like Torres Strait and Cape York surveillance. However, stakeholders called for improved pest detection, emergency communication with smaller industries, and stronger engagement with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to address reduced access to essential chemicals.

The Council remains vital in advancing the Primary Industries Prosper 2050 strategy, and targeting $30 billion in sector output by 2030 through improved productivity, profitability, and sustainability. Progress updates will be shared at the next meeting on 4 August 2026.

On 6 November 2025, the Honourable Tony Perrett MP, Treasurer, Minister for Primary Industries chaired the second Agriculture Energy Water Council meeting convened under the Crisafulli Government. This Council serves as a platform for relevant Ministers, primary industry leaders, and senior government officials to address critical sectoral issues.

The meeting was attended by the Honourable David Janetzki MP, Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership, and the Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water, and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, who participated alongside key stakeholders from peak bodies, including the Queensland Farmers' Federation, Cotton Australia, AgForce Queensland, CANEGROWERS, and Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers, to advance solutions for the industry.

Key updates since the inaugural meeting on 27 May 2025 included Queensland Treasury's engagement with industry on energy demand tariffs, transparency, and customer thresholds. Other priority discussions led by industry covered land tax, carbon farming and offsets impacts to primary industries, red tape reduction, disaster recovery reforms, insurance challenges, and stamp duty issues. The Queensland Government advised that disaster recovery reforms have been progressed around primary producer definitions and spatial tools however a commitment was made to facilitate further strategic discussions that include the Queensland peak industry groups with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the National Emergency Management Agency on disaster recovery arrangements.

The Queensland Government advised that it will review energy Tariff 49 soon; release the amended land tax ex gratia relief guidelines and monitor to assess implementation, and carbon farming and offsets; and review policies for cumulative disaster impact claims and other disaster matters. Commitments were made by Council members to meet to discuss issues such as relief options during disasters with the Queensland Revenue Office; insurance and stamp duty challenges faced by the industry with the Insurance Council of Australia and individual insurance companies; and discuss which tools can be used to inform and negotiate land use policy decisions and the statewide Unlocking Water project.

Updates requested by industry were provided including clarification of the Biosecurity Framework, updates on the government’s Subsidence Pilot Project, and agricultural interests in the Queensland planning framework. Industry is seeking further engagement to ensure that biosecurity is recognised as fundamental to primary industries and tracking land use changes and land use opportunities that ensure the primary industries sector maximises its potential.

Updates requested by industry were provided including clarification of the Biosecurity Framework, updates on the government's Subsidence Pilot Project, and agricultural interests in the Queensland planning framework. Industry is seeking further engagement to ensure that biosecurity is recognised as fundamental to primary industries and tracking land use changes and land use opportunities that ensure the primary industries sector maximises its potential.

Seqwater and Sunwater highlighted a fresh customer management approach and provided progress updates on major infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Paradise Dam, as well as water pricing, supply, and storage levels.

The Council will continue to play a vital role in further strengthening Queensland's primary industries sector, and in shaping the Prosper 2050 strategy and action plans, and policies that support productivity, profitability and sustainability to grow the sector's output to $30 billion by 2030. Three Council meetings are planned for 2026, with dates to be confirmed.

On 27 May 2025, The Honourable Tony Perrett MP, Minister for Primary Industries chaired the inaugural Agriculture Energy Water Council meeting, bringing together key Ministers, industry leaders and senior government officials to address critical issues in the primary industries sector.

The Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, and a representative for the Treasurer joined me to meet with peak industry bodies, including Queensland Farmers’ Federation, CANEGROWERS, Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers, Cotton Australia, and AgForce Queensland.

Discussions covered workforce and skills, disaster funding, biosecurity, irrigation discounts, energy tariffs, and prime agricultural land. With an ambitious target to grow primary industries’ output to $30 billion by 2030, the council will play a vital role in shaping policies that support productivity, profitability and sustainability for future generations.

Its work will also drive the implementation of the co-designed Primary Industries Prosper 2050 and the associated five-year action plans to strengthen Queensland’s primary industries' future.

The Queensland Government reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with industry leaders to advance key priorities, with progress to be reviewed at the next council meeting later in 2025.

Key issues discussed included:

• workforce and skills shortages and programs
• updates on changes to eligibility for access to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
• water pricing
• energy tariffs
• protection of prime agricultural land
• the partnership approach to biosecurity.

Several of these issues were identified for further consideration in future council meetings. The next council meeting is anticipated to be held in late September 2025.