German painter

CRIME WRAP

Far North Easter weekend crime wrap, April 19

SENIOR CONSTABLE MARTIN SHEPHARD Multiple offences, Innisfail

INNISFAIL Police arrested a 31-year-old Innisfail man after a short foot chase, charging him with eight offences.

Police will allege that at around 2 am on Saturday, April 16, they were informed a man was in possession of a handgun.

Police commenced an investigation and inquiries were conducted to locate the man.

At around 3 pm on Saturday, April 16, officers located the man at an Innisfail hotel.

The man allegedly ran from police before being chased down and arrested.

Investigations linked the man to an alleged evasion offence that occurred on March 20, when officers attempted to intercept a vehicle on Jordell Street, Innisfail.

Police will allege the vehicle sped off and was located a short time later abandoned.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, and a small quantity of dangerous drugs were allegedly located.

The man was charged with three counts of possess dangerous drugs and one count each of obstruct police, possess utensils, possess tainted property, evade police and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He is expected to appear before the Innisfail Magistrates Court today.

Police investigations are continuing in relation to the alleged handgun. Drink driving, Far North

OVER the Easter break, police in the Far North conducted over 2,200 roadside breath tests (RBTs) resulting in 34 drivers being charged with drink driving offences – five of which recorded high range readings of over 0.150%.

Police also charged 16 drivers with drug driving offences over the same period.

On Thursday evening (April 14) at around 7 pm, one driver left a Cairns car park and allegedly hit a vehicle entering the parking area.

RURAL

The driver continued to push the other vehicle hitting the car a second time before driving off at speed.

The driver allegedly drove through several red traffic lights and caused other drivers to take evasive action to avoid collisions.

Police will allege the vehicle was located with the driver a short time later after it was involved in a singlevehicle traffic incident on Arnold Street, Aeroglen.

The 25-year-old Trinity Park man was charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, fail to provide specimen of breath roadside, fail to provide specimen of breath for analysis, drive under the influence of liquor and two counts of fail to comply with duties of driver involved in a crash.

He will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on April 29.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/ reporting .

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www. crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote these reference numbers: QP2200238816, QP2200479375, QP2200648669, QP2200649795.

An election to spotlight regional potential

CANEGROWERS CHAIRMAN PAUL SCHEMBRI

WITH the election campaign now officially underway, CANEGROWERS and other members of the National Farmers' Federation are calling for a clear commitment from the political parties to develop regional economies to realise new opportunities.

As a commodity group member of NFF, CANEGROWERS has contributed to a clear statement of election priorities to benefit not just farmers, not just people who live outside of cities but all Australians.

The whole nation will benefit if the ideas, proposals and requests listed by the NFF and its member organisations are adopted by the next Federal Government.

After all, agriculture accounts for 55% of Australia's land use, and 99% of Australian farm businesses are fully Australian-owned. Those businesses produce 90% of the daily food that Australians eat.

While a vital part of our food security and employment, farming is also a significant earner of income for the nation – in 2021-22, the value of agricultural exports reached $64 billion.

There are five key areas in the NFF election platform under the banner' Time to Thrive – Stronger Regions for all Australians'.

They are things you will have heard CANEGROWERS talking about: • Plan for smarter regional growth • Partner for a healthier environment • Connect every Australia • Secure Australia's farm workforce • Give farmers a fair go

There is more detail on this website www.timetothrive.com.au/ and CANEGROWERS has some specific priorities for the sugarcane industry and Queensland, which are outlined here www.canegrowers.com.au

As we have said before, we know the sugarcane industry can grow given the right government policy. There are export markets to expand into and new opportunities for sugarcane to feed diversified businesses, which can boost employment in our communities.

Last week I was in Canberra attending the NFF's 2022 National Conference of around 500 farm group delegates from around Australia. The conference focused on sustainability, climate, productivity, labour and technology but notably, and with great timing, it was also the event that launched this collective election strategy.

The importance of agriculture to our national prosperity is that both the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese addressed the conference.

We want to see that focus on farms and regions continue as the campaign gathers momentum.

I ask you also that as the candidates vie for your votes, please ask them about what they would do for the whole country and whether their commitments help our regions grow.

Smoke from planned burn – Wooroonooran National Park

(WALSH’S Pyramid)

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will conduct a series of minor planned burns on Walsh’s Pyramid within Wooroonooran National Park from Wednesday, April 20, through

Situation Update

Far North QLD

200 INFECTED PLANTS

Across five properties in the Tully Valley since March 2015 to 14 April 2022

148 150 151 157 159 168

DON'T ENTER BANANA FARMS

Panama TR4

is a devastating disease of bananas that is spread by contaminated soil. This soil could be on your shoes or the tyres of your vehicle. Hear from banana growers why it's so important that nobody enters banana farms scanning here: without the grower's permission by

May 2021 Jul 2021 Sep 2021 Nov 2021 Jan 2022 Apr 2022 to late July 2022, weather permitting.

These planned burns are part of the annual hazard reduction/conservation management program for Northern Parks and Forests.

As a result, smoke may be seen in and around the surrounding residential areas of Aloomba, Behana Gorge, Gordonvale and Goldsborough.

These burns aim to reduce the volume of forest fuels and create a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt areas.

This will help reduce the intensity of any subsequent wildfires and provide favourable conditions for natural forest regeneration.

Smoke can decrease visibility on roads and in built-up areas, so motorists must drive safely to the conditions and residents who may be affected by smoke take relevant precautionary measures.

Please be aware that several walking tracks in the area may be closed during burn operations, particularly the Walsh’s Pyramid Summit walk. Please abide by signage, and for further information on potential closures, please visit the DES Website: Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov. au)

For more information, please call the QPWS Cairns Management Unit office of QPWS on 0436 911 176.