Perrett has beef with Greens and Labor

IF THERE was any doubt about who Agriculture Minister Mark Furner’s really political masters were, it was confirmed last week in parliament.

As the debate raged on whether Labor’s unfair vegetation laws should pass, Furner cowered in the corner, lacking the courage to stand up for the farmers he was happy to sell out in favour of green votes in inner-city Brisbane.

But should it really be any surprise? This is the same man who, while in the Senate, was complicit in Labor’s disastrous 2011 live export ban. As a senator for Queensland he stayed mute as our graziers were on their knees from this rushed and devastating kick in the guts.

After these spineless betrayals it was amazing that Furner, alongside Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, swanned into Beef Week grinning as if nothing was wrong while giving lip service to our crucially important beef industry.

Minister Furner has been all too happy to don the Akubra and his still to be worn-in RMs on trips in the regions to give lip service to our hard-working farmers and graziers. But despite their reputation for hospitality, bushies have long memories and can spot an

❝ Mark Furner’s silence has been deafening

— Tony Perrett

imposter from a mile away.

They won’t forget the man who signed green group the Wilderness Society’s 100-day pledge to change vegetation laws before the last state election. They won’t forget how he hid in Brisbane as the hearings and debate on Labor’s devastating laws raged around the state.

They won’t forget how their supposed representative in Cabinet failed to fight for farmer’s futures and livelihoods. Mark Furner’s silence was deafening even as his party rolled out its campaign to demonise our farmers and the rural and regional communities they support.

Only the Liberal National Party has consistently stood up for hard-working families, farmers and our regions.

Only the LNP understands graziers and consistently fights for their and property rights and interests.