House of Representatives Date: 3 September 2025
Speaker:
I call the Member for Fisher.
Andrew Wallace MP:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
I rise to speak on the important matter of agriculture. People often see the seat of Fisher for its glorious Sunshine Coast beaches, but they don’t often go west of the highway. Yet you don’t even have to go west of the highway to find fantastic agricultural businesses operating in my seat, including one of the largest eastern seaboard fisheries operating out of the Mooloolaba Harbour in prawns and tuna.
I want to acknowledge Heidi and Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods, fantastic local businesspeople in my electorate. They are a sustainable fishery and do a great job. A shout-out to them and to all of the people who work on our wharves at Mooloolaba.
I also take this opportunity to welcome my friends from the Queensland Parliament who are here today. I think they are here to learn about the Federation Chamber, so I hope they are acting like sponges and soaking up the wisdom they are hearing. I especially acknowledge my good friend, the Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, who is doing an excellent job as the state’s new Tourism and Environment Minister.
It is a good segue, because while Fisher is known for its beaches, the Australian Electoral Commission still classifies it as a rural seat. Some of my rural colleagues may chuckle at that, but Fisher continues to hold very important agricultural industries, including the farming of pineapples, bananas and strawberries. The Sunshine Coast could well be the fruit bowl and food bowl of our country.
The challenge we face, of course, is that real estate prices are so high it is difficult to make farming work on a broad scale. But if you go to any farmers market on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you will see countless small farmers and boutique businesses selling their produce. While agriculture is a smaller part of what we do in Fisher, it remains an incredibly important one.
Mr McCormack: Hear, hear!
Andrew Wallace MP:
Of course, the Member for Riverina is much more qualified to speak about agriculture, and I am pleased he is here today. That said, I come from a small farming family. We had a 280-acre farm on the Mornington Peninsula which, compared to the farms in the Riverina, would be considered a postage stamp.
In Maleny and west of Maleny, in places like Conondale and Cambroon, we have fantastic cattle growers. While their operations may be small, the quality of their produce is outstanding. I want to acknowledge Clif Hefner and Theresa Craig, stalwarts of the LNP who also operate a stud farm on the way to Conondale. They do terrific work, not only in their own farming but also through consultancy to help other farmers.
To all those people in Fisher and across the country toiling on the land or on tractors: farmers are the salt of the earth. They work incredibly hard to put food on our tables. I wish more people in the city could experience what it takes to earn a living with their hands, growing the food and fibre that Australians rely on.
I send a shout-out to every single one of them. Many, as I know from my own experience, even listen to Parliament as they work. I used to do the same when I was on the tools. To those listening today, I thank you for your service to this country. Farming can often be a lonely existence, but I take my hat off to you and thank you for what you do.
I am very pleased now to hand over to the Member for Riverina.
Speaker:
I thank the Member for Fisher.
END
Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
