Campbell Newman pledges $4.6m for sugar industry research

CAMPBELL Newman has pledged $4.6 million for research and development in Queensland's sugar industry, as part of his plan to double agricultural production within a generation.

But the Liberal National leader, who attacked federal Labor over its ongoing "knife fight", continued to dodge questions about who would lead his party should he fail to secure the Labor-held seat of Brisbane.

Arriving to today's news conference outside Mackay by tractor, Mr Newman could not say exactly what initiatives would be funded with the research money, saying that would be determined by specialists.

He said global food production needed to double within 30 years to meet rising demand in the developing world.

The funding would be provided to a sugarcane industry body, BSES.

"This funding will complement the industry's own $21m annual investment and provide certainty as the industry undergoes a major review of its R&D structures."
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Mr Newman demonstrated his tractor-driving talent by hoeing a soy bean paddock, saying helearned how on his family farm in Tasmania.

Mr Newman maintained his LNP will not win government on March 24 without winning Ashgrove (margin 7.1 per cent).

source: theaustralian