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Barnaby Joyce to speak at AgForce conference

In his first official speaking engagement since becoming a part of Tony Abbott’s government, newly elected Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce is a major draw card for the upcoming AgForce conference in Townsville.

AgForce General President, Ian Burnett says Barnaby Joyce’s senior role in the Abbott Government will provide a valuable opportunity for those attending this year’s state conference to engage directly with the new administration.

“Throughout the course of the election campaign AgForce advocated strongly on a range of policy issues requiring the urgent attention of our political leaders,” Burnett says.

A long-time advocate of rural and regional Australia, Barnaby Joyce will provide insight into the new Government’s plans for the rural sector, saying he is looking forward to speaking with industry stakeholders on the issues they see as being the driving force for the future of agriculture.

“There is no doubt agriculture, particularly in the north [of Queensland] has faced difficult operating conditions over recent years which have not been helped by poor policy,” Joyce says.

Joyce will be a key participant in the conference’s ‘Vision for Northern Australia’ panel discussion, and will be joined by Dr Ian Watson, Program Leader – Tropical and Arid Systems at the CSIRO; and Chairman of Integrated Food and Energy Developments (I-FED), Keith DeLacy AM.

“I look forward to participating in the panel discussion, outlining our vision for the north and, more broadly, the new government’s hopes for agriculture as a key pillar of the national economy,” Joyce says.

The AgForce State Conference runs from September 17-19 at Rydges Southbank, Townsville.

Visit the AgForce website for more details

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