Unfortunately, the Labor government’s ridiculous vegetation management laws are directly affecting our farmers’ ability to feed their starving livestock.

The new restrictions on using mulga trees to feed livestock have created undue stress on farmers struggling to keep what’s left of their stock alive.

And for the record, the mulga lands do not drain to the Great Barrier Reef - they are west of the Great Dividing Range.

Australia has always had droughts and always will have droughts, it’s a natural phenomenon.

Many are comparing the current drought to the 1960s.

Drought affected farmers are having trouble sourcing hay, it is being transported from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia because of lack of available water for irrigation.

However, our ALP state government is mainly interested in building infrastructure in the south east corner or near the east coast where marginal seats exist.

The Queensland Labor government need to take up the available Federal funds to build more dams in Queensland.

It’s very simple – if you want food, you need water.

If we build water infrastructure and rail infrastructure then Queensland and Australia can produce food, encourage investment in resources, encourage new industries and create jobs.

The state would earn a return on the investment which could be used to help pay down the current $83 billion debt and would be feeding the people at the same time.

At present the State Labor government are more interested in building $45 million, 2 km bikeways in inner city Brisbane which does not provide an income to help pay down debt and does not feed the population.

This drought is a wake up call to the heavily populated areas of Queensland - you need to invest in rural and regional Queensland if you want an income for the state and you want food to put on your table.

Colin Boyce

Member for Callide

You may notice a few extra motorbikes in the north west of the state this week. 

Around 350 riders will take part in the annual Southern Cross Poker Run but there’s no need to be concerned. The riders are raising money for charity as well as spending some money in the west. 

The annual run was first held in 1998 and since then over $600,000 has been raised to help children with spina bifida with therapy and family support. 

The Southern Cross Association expects to raise around $50,000 again this year. It’s a worthwhile event that is not only an adventure for riders, but also a great fundraiser.

So many riders need feeding and the Southern Cross ride gives local groups the opportunity to cater for dinners at night and breakfasts in the morning at the nightly camp overs. This helps the local groups raise funds for their own special projects. 

The Scouts are catering at Capella and Ilfracombe and in Hughenden, Flinders Horse Sport Inc. will be catering and the bar will be run by the Hughenden Bowls Club. 

The riders will be camping at Capella on Sunday night, Ilfracombe on Monday night, Winton on Tuesday night, Mount Isa on Wednesday night, Hughenden on Thursday night and Alligator Creek on Friday night. 

The public is welcome to come and say hello at any of the campsites.

Southern Cross Association