I rise to make a short contribution to the debate of the Agriculture and Environment Committee’s report No. 42 titled Consideration of the Auditor-General’s report 12: 2016-17—Biosecurity Queensland’s management of agricultural pests and diseases. As has been mentioned, the report looked at Panama disease tropical race 4 and wild dog surveillance carried out by Biosecurity Queensland’s core programs.

In Western Queensland the wild dog barrier fence has for a long time been one of the most important pieces of infrastructure. As the member for Gregory it is very much a part of the electorate that I represent and also a part of the electorate that the member for Warrego represents. It has played a significant role in making sure that we protect our pastures but also protect our livestock and certainly our wool industry from the scourge of wild dogs.

I rise to make a short contribution to tonight’s debate. Let me make it clear from the start that the LNP supports primary producers and their right to access firearms. We consider them a tool of the trade. Where I come from in the seat of Gregory one of the biggest issues we face at the moment is access to category H licences. Category H licences are a tool of the trade for primary producers who cover properties from 25,000 to 80,000 acres.

I am looking forward to hearing the contribution of the member for Nanango, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, because electricity prices is one of the biggest issues that we face in regional Queensland. Right now, regional Queensland is being hugely affected by electricity prices.

Western Queensland is heartbroken following the passing of one of its favourite sons, Graham ‘Butch’ Lenton, last week. Butch was a man of great integrity, honesty and humility. He was proud of Winton and passionate about Western Queensland. Well over a thousand people descended on Winton on Monday to pay tribute to Butch, who was one of Queensland’s finest.

It gives me great pleasure to make a short contribution to the debate of the University Legislation Amendment Bill 2017. The bill removes the capacity for universities to make statues; requires universities to have a policy for the election of staff and student representatives; removes certain limitations; improves the integrity of the membership of university governing bodies; implements governance reforms for James Cook University; and makes technical amendments relevant to some universities.

I rise this afternoon to highlight an ongoing concern about the regulated air route between Longreach and Brisbane. I have raised this issue in this House before and I am here today raising it again. I say this because the people of Western Queensland continue to pay almost $500 to travel one way from Longreach to Brisbane. This is highway robbery!

It gives me great pleasure to talk on the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill 2017. Firstly, I thank all committee members. This was an important bill before our committee. I take this opportunity to also thank the secretariat staff and all people involved, especially the submitters to the inquiry who gave us a great understanding of where people are on this issue. It is fair to say that about 98 per cent of people would support this legislation.

I would like to make a contribution to the Strong and Sustainable Resources Communities Bill 2016. This has been a long time coming. This is a very important piece of legislation for the communities I represent in the seat of Gregory. I am talking about towns like Emerald, Clermont, Capella and Tieri that have suffered under the impost of 100 per cent fly-in fly-out workforces. These towns have lost people over many, many years.

Like many in this House, I pay tribute to the committee members who put together this report, Black lung white lies: inquiry in the re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in Queensland. This is one of the most significant reports that we have seen in the parliament for a long time. On occasions I had the good fortune to be a part of the inquiry, which educated me on how bad things are and how we have probably let down many Queenslanders in regard to this issue.