Senator Matthew Canavan will inspect the proposed Emu Swamp Dam site today as part of a campaign to win more infrastructure funding for Queensland. 

"Very few major dams have been built in Australia in recent decades," Senator Canavan said. "We shouldn't be frightened about building dams. Having water in a dam is like having money in the bank. 

"If we want our agriculture industry to grow, we have to add water first. 

"Emu Swamp Dam could provide a secure water supply for Stanthorpe and also meet the water needs of expanding agriculture in the region. It would boost the economy and generate more jobs, both during the construction phase and in the longer term.

"I will be visiting the dam site, and talking with local farmers, other business people and the Southern Downs Regional Council to get the facts about this proposal," Senator Canavan said. 

Senator Canavan said he had toured Central Queensland just last week to inspect dam sites in that region, and strongly agreed with comments by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on the weekend that Australia must get over its "dam phobia". 

Senator Canavan, who took up his seat in the Senate on July 1, is spending two days on the Southern Downs, visiting Stanthorpe, Killarney, Warwick and Allora, to meet a wide range of primary producers and other business operators and gain a more detailed understanding of important local issues. 

“My first job is to listen to what people want. That's why I have made an effort to get around to every region of Queensland in my first six months as a Senator. The Southern Downs is such an important part of Queensland and I am looking forward to spending a couple of days there.”