Katter yesterday unveiled the Katter’s Australian Party agriculture policy, which pledges to return confidence to the farming industry and back farmland owners who are against exploration and mining.

It also pledged a new Department of Primary Industry to be overseen by a new portfolio of Food Fibre and Energy, which would “develop and facilitate uptake of alternative fuels including gas and ethanol in agricultural, industrial and commercial machinery”

The party said it would also mandate sugar and grain industry development to produce ethanol, give property owners the right to say no to mining and gas companies, and develop alternative fuel supplies, replacing imported fuel with domestic production.

And it would remove “discrimination” in water extraction and tree clearing so the same rules apply to farmers and miners.

Katter’s Australian Party is expected to pick up 9-10% of the vote at the March 24 Queensland election and has been tipped to win four to six seats.

This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication EnergyNewsBulletin.net.