An elected Coalition Government will back our farmers and regional communities, putting an end to three years of Labor’s anti-farming agenda.
Nationals Leader, David Littleproud, said the Coalition’s Agriculture Plan, announced today, would give farmers the support they need.
“Agriculture is critical to Australia’s success but Labor has treated the agricultural industry with contempt,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Since Labor was elected, the cost of food production has skyrocketed, with gas and electricity prices up by more than 30 per cent. Labor’s policies have eroded confidence in the industry.”
The Coalition’s Agriculture Plan is focused on four key elements;
• Developing a National Food Security Plan – an end-to-end food security plan, with an interim report in the first six months of a Coalition Government.
• Establishing a Sustainable Biosecurity Funding model – the Coalition will legislate a minimum level of biosecurity funding, and introduce an import container levy for sea and air, rather than taxing our own farmers to pay for the risks created by imports.
• Bringing back the workers needed for the agricultural industry – bring back the Agriculture Visa, review the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme and the Pacific Engagement Visa to ensure they meet the needs of employers, workers and Pacific nations, and maintain the 88-day rule for the Working Holiday Visa.
• Building agricultural productivity and resilience – reversing Labor’s ban on live sheep exports, finalising the Brett Cattle live export class action case, and ensure there is fairness at the farmgate for farmers and at the checkout for families through tougher action on supermarkets.
“Australian farmers have struggled through Labor’s self-made cost-of-living crisis. Labor has ripped agriculture apart by creating issues all along the supply chain. Only the Coalition has a plan to help our farmers, which, in turn, helps all of Australia. This is part of the Coalition’s plan to get Australia back on track.”
For more information go to: https://www.nationals.org.au/election-policies/our-plan-for-agriculture
