"Australia must recognise that one of its most scarce resources is prime agricultural land. It is crucial to maintain our Nation's food sovereignty and give our Nation a sustainable, long term export opportunity. In the past, agricultural land has been fundamental to the economic development of Australia and shall continue to be crucial into the future.

"Mining currently presents a threat by reason of direct extraction and in turn carbon sink forests present a threat indirectly which puts at risk this vital agricultural resource of our Nation. You cannot dig up country, turn it upside down and expect the quality of its agricultural potential to be the same. Australia requires a strong mining sector, and must maintain a very strong mining sector into the future, but not at the expense of prime agricultural land.

"It may not be the immediate thought of those driving to work in the morning, but just as Australians have concerns about conservation issues, they must take a vested interest in regard to the Nation maintaining its agricultural resources or their partner will pay for it as they push the shopping trolley through the supermarket.

"Australia must develop robust policies which fundamentally protect the nature and quality of prime agricultural land. Decisions about mining on the Breeza Plains, or Jimbour Plains or other areas on the Darling Downs have to be closely monitored because we cannot remedy the ramifications if they destroy the land."