IF there has been one ray of sunshine through the coronavirus gloom it has been the region's agriculture sector, particularly beef and sheep with spectacular returns into the pockets of producers.
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From the extraordinary low base of two years of drought, the tide had turned on the land.
The rains have come with the best autumn break in decades and once parched paddocks planted with winter crops in the hope of a boom harvest later this year.
China accounted for 24 per cent of total Australian beef exports last year, up from 14 per cent in 2018, and the country has reportedly slapped a temporary ban due to labelling and health certificate requirements.
But a more concerning reason might be the Chinese want to make Australia pay for being one of the most vocal countries in wanting a probe into the origins of coronavirus and how a pandemic, which has caused global human and economic carnage, can be avoided in the future.
They are legitimate questions to ask by Australia despite coming up with one of the best responses to COVID-19 anywhere in the world.
But the implications of any trade war with China are significant and Prime Minister Scott Morrison finds himself with yet another minefield to navigate in avoiding mass job losses at the four meat processing facilities in question in Queensland and northern NSW.
The National Farmers Federation is also treading a fine diplomatic line with the aim of not causing further angst.
"We recognise in relationships as significant as that between Australia and China, from time to time, issues do arise," NFF president Fiona Simson said.
"When they do it is important that both parties work together in a respectful manner to, as soon as possible, resolve the challenge, to an end that is satisfactory to both."
Cool heads must prevail.
