The QLD Liberal National Party have today announced they will move to protect Iconic farmland in Queensland.
It beggers belief that any State Political party could differentiate itself by promising to protect prime farming land and hence a state and the nations food security.
As the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen [pictured] has observed:
“There is no such thing as an apolitical food problem.
While drought and other naturally occurring events may trigger famine conditions, it is government action or inaction that determines its severity, and often even whether or not a famine will occur.
The 20th century is full of examples of governments undermining the food security of their own nations - sometimes intentionally.
.
LNP Shadow Minister for Food Security & Agriculture Ray Hopper [pictured] announced today:
“A LNP government would use legislation passed today (Mines and Energy Legislation Amendment Bill) to protect prime farm lands including the Felton Valley, Jimbour Plain, Pittsworth and the Lockyer Valley from being lost to mining.
I’m not against mining and certainly not against the financial benefits that mining brings to Queensland, but I am committed to preserving our best and most productive farm lands for future generations.
However, we need to protect our best farming land in the same way as they do in Europe. We’re very lucky in Australia because we’ve always been able to produce enough food …we’ve never starved ….we need to ensure that never happens.”
Ray is dead right. For those of you who don’t believe Food security will ever be a problem here in Australia lets just have a look at the USA the worlds superpower, cradle of democracy and capitalism.
Food insecurity has been described as “a condition in which people lack basic food intake to provide them with the energy and nutrients for fully productive lives.” (Hunger Task Force)
In 2005, 35.1 million Americans, which includes 22.7 million adults and 12.4 million children, lived in households that were unable to afford the food they need for the year.[19]
Households that are more likely to experience food insecurity are female-headed with children, those with incomes below the poverty line, and those that reside either in principal cities or within rural areas.[20]
The top three states ranking in prevalence of food insecure households between 2003-2005 were New Mexico (16.8%), Mississippi (16.5%), and Texas (16.0%).”
Do those figures stun you - they do me, and that was before the global financial crisis. No doubt it will be worse now.
With the worlds population expected to grow by another 3 billion people between now and 2050 food security will become the issue of national significance. Food insecurity in a nation causes political and social upheaval.
Ray Hopper and the LNP have demonstrated great wisdom in todays announcement and for that he receives a converted Agmates “Onya” award.
A huge Thumbs up from the Agmates Community. Ray is the first State Politician to receive an “Onya”
“Onya” Ray.
See All “Onya” recipients Here.
.
Have Your say!