Start of the 2026 Outback Queensland Cattle Drive

Longreach Regional Council Mayor,  Councillor Tony Rayner; Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor, Councillor Rob Chandler; Outback Queensland Cattle Drive Chairman and BeefBank Director Mr Anthony (Bim) Struss; Outback Queensland Tourism Association CEO, Ms Denise Brown; Opera Queensland performers;  distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands on which we gather today the Iningai people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and I extend those respects to all First Nations people here today.

I am thrilled to be with you here this morning, to once again witness the beginning of this marvellous show of outback spirit and generosity — the Outback Queensland Cattle Drive. Graeme is sorry he can’t be here to crack a whip.

There are few sights more evocative of our history than cattle heading out along the long paddock.  

For generations, these stock routes have formed a vast, living network across Queensland — pathways not only for cattle, but for the exchange of goods, knowledge and opportunity between remote communities and the rest of the State.

Long before sealed roads and road trains, it was along these routes that Australia’s pastoral industry was built — one careful step at a time, guided by the skill, endurance and quiet judgement of stockmen and women.

What is so special about this Drive is that it does not simply celebrate that heritage — it actively brings it back to life.

This year, I will again have the honour of signing a Stock Route Travel Permit authorising this journey —much like those that have governed cattle movements for decades.  

That permit sets out, in careful detail, the route, the distances, and the conditions of travel — reminding us that droving has always been as much about discipline and stewardship as it is about adventure.  

It is a small but powerful connection to the past — where the simple act of moving cattle across the landscape was governed by law, by local knowledge, and by a deep respect for the land and the communities it sustained.

Today’s Drive follows in that tradition, travelling from Longreach through communities along these historic stock routes toward Blackall, linking towns that have long been part of Queensland’s pastoral story.

But while this journey honours the past, it is firmly focused on the needs of the present.

We know that many Queensland communities have faced significant hardship in recent times, particularly following widespread flooding and livestock losses. At the same time, too many Australians continue to face food insecurity.

Last year’s inaugural Drive showed what is possible — helping to provide meals for more than 300,000 families. This year, the ambition is even greater: to deliver one million meals to Queenslanders in need.

That is a remarkable goal—and one made possible by the generosity and commitment of many: BeefBank, the Queensland beef industry, sponsors and supporters, and, of course, the stockmen and women, families and community members who will make this journey together.

As this mob moves steadily along the long paddock over the coming weeks, it will be more than a tribute to our heritage. It will be a moving symbol of resilience, generosity and hope.

May you travel well, stay safe, and carry forward both the traditions of the past and the generosity that defines Queensland today.

Now, let’s open the gate and let the 2026 Outback Queensland Cattle Drive begin!