Ministerial meetings and forums
We publish updates from some of the ongoing industry meetings and forums our Minister attends.
Agriculture Energy Water Council
Purpose
The Agriculture Energy Water Council works across government and industry to find and support solutions for the growth and prosperity of Queensland’s primary industries sector.
The council will address policy issues concerning farm production costs for energy, water, land use planning, first stage processing, transport and logistics, employment and training, climate, resources, education, health, technology and land stewardship, which relate to the primary industries sector.
Meetings
-
27 May 2025
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.
Membership
Government
- The Honourable Tony Perrett MP, Minister for Primary Industries (Chair)
- The Honourable David Janetzki MP, Treasurer, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Home Ownership
- The Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers
- Other government ministers may be invited to Council meetings to discuss matters and opportunities associated with their portfolios
- Graeme Bolton, Director-General, Department of Primary Industries
- Paul Williams, Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury
- Joshua Hannan, Acting Director-General, Department of Local Government, Water, and Volunteers
- Other senior government officials for specific issues that relate to their respective departments
These senior DPI representatives will have an ongoing role working with the council:
- Ash Bacon, Deputy Director-General, Agriculture
- Rachel Chay, Deputy Director-General and Chief Biosecurity Officer
- Justine Clark, Deputy Director-General, Corporate
- Pauline Jacob, Deputy Director-General, Fisheries and Forestry
Industry
- Aaron Kiely, President, Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF)
- Jo Sheppard, CEO, Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF)
- Owen Menkens, Chair, CANEGROWERS
- Dan Galligan, CEO, CANEGROWERS
- Joe Moro, Chair, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers
- Rachel Chambers, CEO, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers
- Nigel Burnett, President Cotton Australia
- Michael Murray, General Manager, Cotton Australia
- Shane McCarthy, President, AgForce
- Mike Guerin, CEO, AgForce