Brisbane Food Security Forum-the Farmers Come to Town

Farmers of South East Queensland and their supporters will be in Brisbane next Monday - 12 March, to attend a special  Food Security Forum hosted by broadcaster Alan Jones.

Where:           Brisbane Convention Centre
Start Time:    12 Noon

The rally – to be extensively covered by Australian and international media – aims to draw attention to serious environmental and social issues being faced by the people of Queensland.

Four courageous Queensland farming women will talk with Alan Jones about their experiences dealing with coal or coal seam gas mining and the severe impact this has on their families, health and communities.

• Tanya Plant, Acland farmer: Raising children in the shadow of a coal mine
• Katie Lloyd: from the heart of Gasland - what is it like to live in the middle of a CSG field
• Ruth Armstrong: Cotton and grain farmer and Activist fighting CSG on the Condamine flood plain
• Debbi Orr: Fighting for her family against CSG on the Tara residential estate

Farmers and others concerned about CSG and mining, believe that the time has come for  politicians to be made accountable to answer the hard questions before Queensland heads to the ballot box.

The Katter Australia Party and Queensland Greens – both strongly supportive of the fight to protect Prime Agricultural Land and water resources from mining – have agreed to attend the Forum. They will have an opportunity to outline their policies and commitments to the people of Queensland.

Campbell Newman has declined the invitation and Kate Jones is yet to respond.

‘Throwing Down the Hat’ is a time honoured bush challenge for a fight;  prior to  the Food Security Forum, farmers will have morning tea with the people of Ashgrove before throwing down their hats at the offices of Campbell Newman and Kate Jones. At the completion of the Forum, a march to the Executive Building is planned to “Throw Down the Hat” to the Bligh Government .

For all Media Enquiries:   Drew Hutton (Lock the Gate Alliance)  on 0428 487 110

For all Other Enquiries:   Cassie McMahon (Lock the Gate Alliance) 0427 166 166