Gee and Katter launch plan to protect Australia's prime agricultural land
April 17, 2025
Independent Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, and Independent Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, have announced a major new push to protect Australia’s most productive farmland, warning that without urgent action, vital agricultural land will continue to be lost to development and changing land use.
If re-elected, the pair will introduce legislation, titled the Protecting Australia’s Prime Agricultural Land Bill, to safeguard Australia’s prime agricultural land, ensuring it remains dedicated to producing food and fibre for Australia and the world.
Mr Gee said the need for action was clear, with urban expansion, explosion of lifestyle blocks, infrastructure and large-scale industrial projects rapidly consuming prime-quality farmland.
“Food security is a key part of our national security. As the population of the world increases, food security is going to be a critical global issue and may even be a source of future conflict. It’s fundamental to the ongoing success and prosperity of our nation,” Mr Gee said.
“Once prime agricultural land is gone, we can’t get it back. It’s a strategic national resource. You can’t grow food once the land is covered in concrete.”
For the Central West, Mr Gee said the legislation would help secure the region’s agricultural and economic future.
“This is about protecting the land that’s sustained our communities for generations,” he said. “This Bill backs our farmers, protects local jobs, and keeps the Central West one of Australia’s most vital food-producing regions.”
Mr Katter said “The French and the European Union have said, ‘if we remove the farmers, we have no one to look after the land’.
“Without farmers, the land turns into fire starters, feral pig pens and weed nurseries.
“Farms are carbon absorbers. Take sugar cane for example, in a 12-month period a vacant field becomes solid CO2 absorbing biomass. A hectare of sugar absorbs 50 tonne of CO2.
“If we lock agriculture out of our best grazing and food producing country then we will turn this nature wonderland into urban streets and industrial developments.
“This bill gives the farmer the power to say, “bugger off.”
The Protecting Australia’s Prime Agricultural Land Bill will ensure that prime agricultural land is preserved for agriculture while giving farmers agency and control over their land.
The centrepiece of the policy will be farmers deciding how their land is used, not governments or anyone else. It would mean that people buying rural properties containing prime agricultural land would have to use that land for agriculture.
It will take a strategic and nationally coordinated approach to supporting farmers’ rights to use and manage their land productively and ensure land use decisions do not undermine Australia’s future agricultural capacity and security.
ENDS
Electorate Bob (red tie and jeans) in Ingham’s annual Kindy Quiz Night? or Parli Bob (waistcoat and maroon scarf) in Airlie Beach’s Halloween Party? We love a good Bob pic!
MINERALS, WATER AND LAND - NQ WEALTH In Queensland, north of the Tropic Capricorn we have about 90% of Queensland’s water runoff, mineral and resource reserves. Economically, we could generate GREAT WEALTH, for the whole of Australia. Yet we have been straggled and regulated by a government thousands of kms away - government that spends billions in Brisbane. A North Queensland state removes those Brisbane bureaucrats and provides us with the autonomy we need to build the roads, dams,electricity lines, ports and other infrastructure we so desperately need.
Today the Federal Government has given an extra $10 million to finalise works at Cloncurry Airport following significant flood damage in late 2025 and early 2026. Huge congratulations must go to Mayor Greg Campbell, Cloncurry Council and all those who have fought hard to achieve this outcome. The proposed works will ensure the long-term operation of this vital transport hub to continue to support aeromedical services, business travel, tourism and mining operations.
If all government cars were hybrids. If our sugar and grain was converted to ethanol. If our oil was refined in Australia. WE WOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FUEL. This would save EVERY Australian taxpayer $40,000 a year, create hundreds of jobs and resurrect our sugar and grain industries. The answers are there… government just needs to act! To watch the full episode on Spotify, click here .
I couldn’t sleep last night.. praying for my good and long term friend Helen. Helen brings sparkle, enlightenment and joy to the centre of the crossbench. My thoughts are also with your family, friends and staff at this extremely difficult time. May Jesus keep you all in his blessings. Bob Katter
Last weeks parliamentary debate raised some key concerns about the state and direction of the country. Bob’s take is detailed in his latest podcast and includes: Carbon Credits (Integrity and Transparency) Legislation – hidden under the guise of ‘transparency’ and ‘integrity’ this legislation WIDELY EXPANDS Native Title consent requirements, openly acknowledging that it will essentially kill off nearly all small/medium size mining and infrastructure projects with extended project delays and costs. Customs (Illicit Tabacco) Legislation – stronger enforcement and penalties is useless against organized crime unless we also stop demand by narrowing the VAST gap between legal and illegal tobacco products and take away the economic incentives fueling the black market. Backpackers vs Student Visas - meetings at the highest level arguing that backpackers are here for a good time not a long time, they must be from certain countries and under the age of 30, they spend monies earnt and go home. Student visa holders have NO country restrictions and NO age limits, family dependents are also allowed and about 90% stay with the hope of migrating. Protect Aussie produce – continuing the fight to stop fresh food imports from countries with slave labour wages and child labour in the supply chain - a game changer for the banana, pineapple and other tropical fruit industries.
Not so long ago a flight to Tel Aviv experienced an attempted terrorist attack. The heroic actions of those on the plane averted what very nearly was a great tragedy with the almost certain deaths of all 180 occupants in the plane. As the background of the would be terrorist is being investigated serious allegations have been made that he was radicalised IN AUSTRALIA whilst he was an INTERNATIONAL STUDENT!!! Where are the rallies in the street? Where is the outrage in the media? Where are the strong political statements of condemnation ? Where is the swift action against those radicalising people in Australia? ARE WE GOING TO PRETEND THAT THIS WON’T EVER HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA?
Australian rural industries will keep shutting down if we keep on allowing government to: Import fruit and vegetables; Require our farmers to compete against imports from countries with slave labour wages; and Impose more and more red, green and ‘supermarket imposed’ tape on our produce. We already import nearly all of our pork and seafood… once thriving Australian industries - SHUTDOWN. STOP THIS MADNESS. Protect Australian jobs, consumers and farmers.
Always a great time with Shane Knuth MP and some local legends!
We export our oil for $8,000 million and import it back as petrol for $62,000 million. While overseas refineries get rich from our oil we are getting poorer and poorer as a nation. The impact to our economy is colossal!!! And must be stopped. BRING BACK OUR OIL REFINERIES.
