An election could be called for the weekend of January 26 and right now the major parties are finalising their policies. We have a chance to get the link between drought and climate change firmly on the agenda.

Next week, Australia’s eyeballs (including those of our politicians) will be on one thing: the Melbourne Cup. That’s why I am working on a new advertising campaign in Central QLD that will launch next week.

I have seen these ads -- featuring farmers from Central QLD who have all joined forces through Farmers for Climate Action -- and I can tell you they are incredibly powerful and send a message linking drought and climate change in a way our pollies won’t be able to ignore. You can see the TV ad and help get them out here: www.farmersforclimateaction.org.au/support_qld_farmers

Central QLD - Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville and where I live out near Longreach - is home to many of the swing seats that will decide who forms the next Federal Government. These are the seats that our politicians are focused on, so that’s where we are going to focus our ad buy.

We are in our 6th consecutive year of drought. This just can’t go on. We need our politicians to take action. Watch the ad and if you are able to donate to get our ad on TV and across social media, now is the time to do it. Thank you so much.

Best wishes

Angus Emmott

Noonbah Station, Longreach

Ps, thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me that you are willing to stand beside farmers as we push our pollies to take action on climate.