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National Farmers Federation launches protest against Albanese Labor government impact on Australian farmers over their deep concerns

David Littleproud highlights key issues, including taxes, visas, live exports, water, renewables, and more. Future Coalition support pledged.

By news@gippsland - 26th October 2023 - Back to News

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has been forced to take the extraordinary step of launching its largest protest campaign in almost 40 years, as Labor continues to decimate the industry and the regions. Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the NFF was desperately trying to save farming from a Labor government that had torn up farming confidence. New NFF president David Jochinke also gave a dire warning at the NFF Conference that it was in the fight of its life.

National Farmers Federation (NFF) launches a major public protest campaign, 'Keep Farmers Farming' as Labor's policies negatively affect farming, being punished in almost every possible area

Agriculture confidence erodes

Mr Littleproud said, "It has taken just 18 months for Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and the Prime Minister to lose the confidence of the agriculture sector. Our farmers are under siege. NFF's public campaign, 'Keep Farmers Farming', is an embarrassment for Minister Watt and the Albanese Labor government."

"Every single Australian is feeling the impact of the pain and hurt being put onto farmers, because the end result of Labor's bad policies are families being forced to pay more for food at the checkout," he said.

Critical issues in agriculture

Farmers are being punished by Labor in almost every possible area. Just some examples include:

Fresh food tax

Labor is taxing farmers more, by forcing them to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers.

"It is unfathomable that the Labor government would ask farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers from other countries. All farmers will be impacted by Labor's new tax, which will push up the price of fresh food."

Scrapping the Ag visa

Australia's top peak food industry bodies warned that agriculture required an additional 172,000 workers, yet only around 16,000 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers have come in since Labor got into office.

"Labor is refusing to reinstate the Agriculture Visa, even though changes to the PALM Scheme are making it even more difficult and costly for farmers to get their product from paddock to plate. Farmers simply can't get the workers they need and will be forced to offer a minimum of 30 hours per week, despite agriculture work being seasonal and weather dependent."

Banning live sheep exports

Labor is destroying the livelihoods of 3000 people and an industry worth $85 million, by banning live sheep exports.

"Minister Watt has turned his back on the live sheep industry. If Minister Watt is so confident in his decision and the science behind it, details from the Independent Panel Report, handed to Minister Watt yesterday, must immediately be released."

Water buybacks

Labor is forging ahead with plans for water buybacks, ignoring the economic and social safeguards for an additional 450 gigalitres.

"Reverting to buybacks for the additional 450 gigalitres will hurt regional communities and drive up food prices."

Renewable energy policies

Labor's reckless race to 82 per cent renewables by 2030 means 28,000 thousand kilometres of transmission lines will rip up native vegetation and prime agricultural land.

"We don't need to put in $80 billion dollars of transmission lines. Labor's ideology is putting our food and fibre production at risk. As well as ripping up agricultural land, chopping down thousands of hectares of native bushland and pristine farmland for wind farms is senseless."

Other issues

• Potential Cultural Heritage laws putting farmland at risk
• Forcing farmers to pay for the unrealised capital gain of their properties in superannuation funds
• Delays to an Infrastructure Review and critical regional projects
• Delays to red imported fire ant eradication funding and delays acting on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
• Lack of impetus to finalise meat labelling and not progressing with the domestic regulation of organics

Mr Littleproud said, "It's no wonder our farmers are on their knees and now begging Labor to stop destroying the industry. A future Coalition government will stop this madness and senseless destruction of our farmland for the sake of left-leaning ideology. Unlike Labor, a future Coalition government will support, protect and grow our farming industry."

Pictured from Victorian Farmers Federation Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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