THE LNP Opposition says the sale of the 9285 hectare state-owned property Berrigurra at Blackwater should be stopped to "save the future of agricultural education".
Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett said Berrigurra was a critical part of the Emerald Agricultural College before it was shut down by Labor in 2019 and was instrumental in educating tens of thousands of Queenslanders.
"I call on Labor's agriculture minister to put a stop to this asset sale before it's too late," Mr Perrett said.
"The minister said in parliament (on Tuesday) that it will be repurposed, but that means calling the real estate agent and putting up a for sale sign."
Both the Emerald Agricultural College and the Longreach Pastoral College had struggled to attract students over many years.
In 2019, only seven students graduated from Emerald and nine from Longreach.
Agriculture Development Minister Mark Furner said the Emerald and Longreach communities had been informed "every step of the way".
"This 'secret plan' was so secret it was advertised in the Queensland Country Life last week," Mr Furner said.
"The sale of Berrigurra was recommended by the independent report into the ag colleges by former QUT Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Coldrake. That report was released in December 2018.
"In contrast, the LNP's Ernst & Young report on the colleges from its period in government has still never been released."
Both the Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar, and the Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, were ejected from the chamber for interjecting during question time.
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