The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland’s 2025 Cabinet Dinner

Premier of Queensland, the Honourable David Crisafulli MP; Deputy Premier, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP; Executive Councillors; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, the Honourable Patrick Weir MP; Representing the Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Grace Grace MP; Lord Mayor of Brisbane, the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner; RNA Queensland President, the Honourable David Thomas; Senior Vice-President, Mr Dan O’Connor OAM; Chief Executive, Mr Brendan Christou; RNA Councillors; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here tonight.

Thank you, Mr President, for your kind words, and thank you all for welcoming me to this evening’s special dinner to celebrate the arrival of this year’s Ekka.

As Governor of our incredible State, and as Patron of the RNA, I am honoured to reflect on this cherished event that brings the country to city, and—with its unique blend of excitement and enterprise—brings joy to so many.

In a few days’ time, when the Ekka gates open, many hundreds of thousands of visitors will have a chance to experience a taste of rural life and learn about the vital ways in which our agricultural sector contributes to our prosperity.

What makes the Ekka so special is the sheer variety of experiences on offer.

And aside from the thrills and entertainment, it is the quality and diversity of the livestock, and fresh produce on display that demonstrate the essential connection that exists between providers and consumers.

While farming practices have changed greatly since the first Exhibition was held in 1876, what hasn’t changed is the spirit of determination and innovation that underpins the vibrancy of this sector.

I see these same admirable qualities in the people I am privileged to meet in regional and remote communities right across our State and am pleased to say that I have now visited 60 out of the 77 LGAs, and in the past financial year I have attended over 170 regional community events. I have also now been to over 80% of the public hospitals and health facilities I set as a target to visit during my term.

From the black soil downs and jump-ups of Winton where dinosaurs once roamed, to the tropical lushness of Cairns and the Cape; from the fertile plains of the Maranoa to the western arid region of Dirranbandi…the geographic differences may vary greatly, but pride of place and commitment towards improvement are key drivers, regardless of location, and what adversities Mother Nature generates.

In May, Graeme and I were thrilled to see the first cattle leaving the yards at Longreach to begin the 775-kilometre-long Great Australian Charity Cattle Drive, and in the same month I officially opened the 2025 Neogen World Angus Forum, which highlights the tremendous importance of this breed for our export industry.

In June, I was particularly proud to represent our state at Trade Investment Queensland’s Tastes of Queensland Showcase at Expo 2025 in Tokyo and Osaka, which presented both our finest produce, and our immense expertise, to a very receptive Japanese market.

I have been pleased to host state dinners at Government House championing the agricultural sectors and am delighted that close to 100% of menu items we serve feature Queensland ingredients.

The Government House bushwalking and yoga on the lawn initiatives continue to be extremely popular, while I am delighted, that over 20,000 people have visited the Fernberg Estate since June 2024.

There is no doubt that building stronger partnerships and encouraging effective collaborations leads to greater unity—and this is represented not just on the global stage—but at a local level.

The RNA mission is to bring people together, with agriculture at the heart, and in doing so, the organisation, its Executive, Council, staff, the sponsors, the many volunteers and of course, the producers themselves, are helping to strengthen the ties that make Queensland so special.

I thank everyone involved for working tirelessly to bring us another action-packed Ekka, and as we look ahead towards Brisbane 2032, I know that the dual powers of endeavour, and enthusiasm will continue to serve our state well. I wish you a successful Ekka 2025.

Thank you.