Nationals Leader David Littleproud says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s announcement of $519 million in Future Drought Fund programs is nothing new and something Labor originally opposed.
Mr Littleproud said the Prime Minister has simply announced an extension of an existing program that Labor initially voted against in February 2019.
“This isn’t new money. This is actually coming from the Future Drought Fund that we put in place when we were in government,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Back then, Mr Albanese voted against it. Yet today Mr Albanese has used Beef2024 to pretend to support our Australian farmers, who are doing it really tough under Labor’s damaging policies.
“The Prime Minister’s hypocrisy is breathtaking.
“Many of the programs Labor is going to continue to fund are programs that were originally put in place when I was Agriculture Minister.”
Mr Littleproud said the only two announcements that would make a difference to the cattle industry would be abolishing the fresh food tax and settling a live cattle legal case, after Labor’s unlawful ban of the live cattle industry in 2011.
He said that ban rocked the industry to its core and had a major financial impact.
“Despite having six months to respond, the government recently requested a further three-month delay in legal proceedings in the Brett Cattle Case, while also refusing proposed compensation of $510 million plus interest plus costs, which would likely see a settlement to those affected of between $800 million and $900 million.
“This government has no shame in its treatment of our farmers and continues to show callous disregard for the industry,” Mr Littleproud said.
