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Gippsland farmers struggle as Labor's policies increase costs and undermine agricultural productivity, say Nationals Leaders

Gippsland farmers are struggling with rising costs and reduced productivity due to Labor's policies, according to Nationals' Leader David Littleproud and MP Darren Chester, who demand urgent policy reforms.

By news@gippsland - 4th October 2024 - Back to News

Gippsland farmers are bearing the brunt of Labor Federal Government policies that are increasing costs, reducing productivity and undermining the financial viability of agriculture, according to Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud. Mr Littleproud and the Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, conducted a two-day tour across the region and received direct feedback from farmers and industry representative groups.

The Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester conducted a two-day tour across the region and received direct feedback from farmers and industry representative groups

Farming future at risk

Mr Littleproud said, "Agriculture forms the backbone of Gippsland, a region renowned for high-quality agricultural products, but the Labor-Greens vendetta against the region is jeopardising the livelihoods of farming families as they grapple with workforce challenges, food and water security, supermarket behaviour, excessive green tape and anti-agribusiness policies. We need common sense in Canberra and a respect for the critical role our farmers play in feeding the nation and exporting to the world."

Mr Chester said the region's agriculture sector was under threat as the Labor Party continued to enforce policies that carry enormous consequences. "Gippsland is an agricultural powerhouse, with a $7 billion net worth, employing more than a third of the region's workforce, and proudly producing 22 percent of the nation's dairy, 25 percent of the beef, wool, and prime lamb in Victoria, and 27 percent of Victoria's vegetables."

"But farmers' voices are increasingly being drowned out by activists who want to shut down Australian farms, and our farmers know they aren't getting a fair go from the government," Mr Chester said.

Labor policies hurt farmers

Since forming Government, the Albanese Government has torn up the Agriculture Visa, despite Australia's top peak food industry bodies warning that agriculture requires an additional 172,000 workers, and made ill-advised changes to the PALM scheme, rendering the scheme unworkable for farmers, compounding widespread workforce shortages.

The Albanese Government has attempted to slug farmers with a new fresh food tax by forcing them to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international competitors, made enormous cuts to regional infrastructure and water, banned the live sheep export industry, introduced a new ute tax and enforced water buybacks.

Farmers seek fairness

Mr Littleproud said these Albanese Government policies were hurting farming communities in Gippsland and across the country and were being driven by people who don't understand the sector. "Our discussions with local farmers were all about listening to their concerns and helping us to shape policies which value and respect their contribution to the nation."

"The anger and frustration of farmers is understandable and led to the recent rally in Canberra. All our farmers want is a fair go, and a Coalition Government will always stand up for the agricultural sector," Mr Littleproud said.

Nationals demand reforms

To fix farming in Gippsland and Australia, The Nationals are demanding 10 key changes by Labor:

• Bring back the Agriculture Visa and fix Labor's PALM scheme mess
• Stop Labor's water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin
• Introduce a container levy (so our own farmers don't pay for the biosecurity risk created by international competitors)
• Reverse Labor's cuts to regional infrastructure
• Stop Labor's truckie tax and vehicle efficiency standard
• Create a mix of energy, rather than Labor's all-renewables approach, with nuclear as well as a lot more gas in the short-term
• Scrap harmful emissions profiles, or Scope 3
• Stop Labor's proposed taxes on superannuation, which will impact family farms
• Ensure the 88-day backpacker work visa remains in place for the agriculture sector
• Reinstate the live sheep export trade

Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com