Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate an outstanding central Queenslander Professor John Rolfe AM of Rockyview, who was recently appointed a Member of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day Honours. This is a richly deserved recognition for a man whose life work has strengthened regional Australia, shaped public policy and deepened our national understanding of the economic, environmental and agricultural challenges facing rural and regional communities, often in complex and contested policy environments.

Professor Rolfe is Professor of Regional Economic Development and the Deputy Dean Research in the School of Business and Law at CQ University in Rockhampton and a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. He's one of Australia's leading resource economists, and his influence extends well beyond Capricornia and Queensland, reaching national and international decision-makers alike. Over more than three decades, Professor Rolfe's research has informed governments, industry and communities on how to balance economic development with environmental stewardship, particularly in regional and agricultural settings where policy decisions have lasting social and economic consequences. His expertise spans non-market valuation, regional development, agricultural economics, environmental economics, resource management and economic impact assessment—all areas of enormous importance to our region and Australia more broadly.

Professor Rolfe has led more than 40 major research projects over the past decade alone. He has secured over $7.4 million in research funding from sources including the Australian Research Council, federal and state governments, research and development corporations and industry partners. Just as importantly, he has supervised numerous PhD and master's students, building the next generation of regional economists and researchers who will continue this important work into the future. His academic contribution is extraordinary. Professor Rolfe has published 115 refereed publications and a further 250 non-refereed articles and reports, with thousands of citations across global research platforms. He has co-edited two internationally significant reference books on non-market valuation and benefit transfer, published in 2006 and 2015, which continue to guide researchers and policymakers worldwide.

But Professor Rolfe's impact is not confined to academia. He has played a central role in applying vigorous economic analysis to real-world policy challenges from agricultural productivity and regional development to environmental protection and water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. He was a leader of the 2013 and 2017 Great Barrier Reef science consensus statements and currently chairs the independent science panel for the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership, a role he has held since 2016. He has also served as independent chair of the Gladstone Regional Community Consultative Committee, contributed to the Environmental Economics Research Hub, advised the Australian Council of Learned Academics and was appointed by both the Queensland and Australian governments to the Great Barrier Reef Independent Science Panel. These are positions of trust requiring not only technical expertise but judgement, independence and integrity—qualities Professor Rolfe exemplifies consistently and without compromise.

Importantly, John Rolfe understands regional Australia not just as an economist but as someone who has lived in it. With a background in agriculture and experience operating a cattle property in Central Queensland, he brings practical insight to his work that resonates deeply with regional communities and strengthens public confidence in evidence based decision-making. Professor Rolfe has also been part of CQUniversity since 1989, serving not only as an academic but also in senior leadership roles, including head of campus, head of school, director of a research centre and deputy dean of research. Has also served as editor-in-chief of the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics and as president of the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.

Professor John Rolfe's appointment as a member of the Order of Australia recognises a lifetime of service to regional economic development, evidence based policymaking and the pursuit of outcomes that genuinely benefit communities. It's also a reminder of the calibre of expertise that exists in regional Australia and an example of the pathways to leadership that can be achieved by regional communities. Professor Rolfe's success highlights the vital role our universities and researchers play in shaping a stronger, more resilient nation, one grounded in regional strength.

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