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Fresh food tax bill is a shambles that will burden families by imposing biosecurity levy on Australian farmers

Littleproud criticises Labor's fresh food tax amid cost crisis, foreseeing burden on farmers and families. Lack of clarity on costs and collection methods sparks confusion and opposition.

By news@gippsland - 28th February 2024 - Back to News

Labor's Bill on a new fresh food tax has been introduced in Parliament, in a move that will increase the cost of living and hurt families and farmers. Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor's biosecurity protection levy will charge Australian farmers for the biosecurity costs importers pose bringing their product to Australia.

Labor plans to determine tax rate based on industry's average production value but lacks specifics on farmer costs and collection method. Potential for zero levy rate noted for sectors with high collection costs

Labor's tax concerns

Mr Littleproud said, "Labor continues to create a mess of its new fresh food tax during a cost-of-living crisis. Labor's treatment of our farmers is shameful. Farmers will inevitably be forced to pass these costs onto consumers, so the tax will also be felt by families at the checkout."

Labor will set the tax rate as a proportion of an industry's average gross value of production over a three-year period. However, the Bill introduced lacks any detail of the cost to farmers or how the levy will be collected. It also states the rate of the levy can be set to nil, in case the cost of collecting the levy in some sectors actually exceeds the revenue raised from it.

Farmers demand clarity

Mr Littleproud said, "Farmers are still in the dark about this new levy - Labor still needs to come up with exact costs and the rate they will be taxed. This has created more confusion and anxiety. "In what parallel universe would any Australian government tax their own farmers, to pay for foreigners to bring their products into this country? Agriculture Minister Murray Watt is out of his depth and doesn't understand the industry, yet he is still determined to tax our farmers and prioritise importers."

The National Farmers' Federation says it is also cautious about an 11th hour Sustainable Biosecurity Advisory Panel set up by Labor. Mr Littleproud said Labor should drop the tax and instead mirror the Coalition's importer container levy. "The Nationals stand by our farmers and will fight this senseless new tax," he said.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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