Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin has welcomed the continued recognition of the importance of Queensland's primary industries sector in the new Federal Government budget.
Mr Mulherin is especially pleased to see funding for the Caring For Our Country initiative.
"This $2.2b five-year program will refocus natural resource management to better target national priorities, including $200m for the Great Barrier Reef Rescue Plan," he said
Mr Mulherin said there was also significant funding for the critical areas of quarantine and biosecurity, an area of real priority for Queensland.
"There is $15.3m over four years to establish a National Weeds and Productivity Research Program to investigate and address significant invasive plant problems and to improv e advice to the farm and forestry sectors on managing invasive plants in forests, pastures and native vegetation," he said.
"In addition there is $5.4m over four years to implement a comprehensive Quarantine Research and Preparedness Plan to minimise the impacts of pests, diseases and contaminates on Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.
"In 2008-09 there will be just under $5m to further boost Australia's ability to detect and respond to biosecurity threats, and to minimise the cost to industry and government caused by established pests, exotic pests and disease incursions.
"I am also very pleased to see climate change is front and centre in this budget with a $2.3b package."
This is broken down into:
• $130m over four years for Australia's Farming Future initiative
• $68.8m over five years for a domestic Emissions Trading Scheme
• $21.8m over five years to establish the Department of Climat e Change
• $400m to be brought forward from 2011-12 under Water for the Future to fund water savings infrastructure and to purchase water entitlements from willing sellers in the Murray Darling Basin
• $5m to install a weather radar near Emerald.
The Minister said the budget also recognised the importance of adaptation to drought conditions while honouring current drought assistance measures.
"There is $14.5m over three years to provide up to 12 months of income support to eligible farming families in areas where Exceptional Circumstances declarations are not extended," he said.
"For those people adversely affected by the January and February floods in the Mackay, Emerald and Whitsunday Island areas, $0.5 million will be provided to the Premier of Queensland's 2008 Flood Relief Appeal.
"This is in addition to the $18.2 million provided under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment to regions of Queensland."