The Queensland Farmer’s Federation is one of the first of many groups which will be hoping the newly-elected government sticks to its pre-poll promises.

The Coalition said it would spend millions of dollar on research and development programs to help the nation’s primary producers. Pledges were reportedly recorded to allow rebates for small exporters, tougher biosecurity regulations and new quarantine measures.

QFF chief executive Dan Galligan said the industry was looking out for the fulfilment of promises for the first major funding increase in years: “The Coalition released an agricultural policy, the cornerstone of which was an increase of $100 million on top of existing Commonwealth investment in agricultural research and development... they've committed to increase that through research and development corporations in Australia, which will be the first real increase in R and D in over a decade.”

The latest Rabobank survey shows that confidence levels among Australian farmers are at a 15-month high, with three quarters of respondents expecting the agricultural economy to improve or stabilise in the next year. The poll was taken before last weekend’s federal election.