A new campaign calling out "anti-farming policies" which "threaten to shave billions off farm production" has come as a shock to federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
Speaking at the National Farmers' Federation Conference on Thursday, Minister Watt said the mantra behind the Keep Farmers Farming campaign wasn't an accurate representation of the Albanese government.
"I was surprised to read in today’s papers that the NFF is launching a campaign against the government arguing that, and I quote, 'food and fibre production is not a central priority for the current federal government', that Labor is pursuing 'a niche, ideological agenda' and that 'Labor is wilfully ignorant of the plight of farmers'," Minister Watt said.
"I have to say, it felt like a 'central priority' each time we delivered nearly $3 billion in extra funding for agriculture since taking office, despite a tight fiscal environment.
"It didn’t feel like we were pursuing a 'niche, ideological agenda' when we delivered the restoration of trade with our biggest agricultural trading partner.
"It didn’t feel like 'wilful ignorance of farmers when the Prime Minister personally raised live cattle trade disruptions with Indonesia in his recent meeting with President Widodo – disruptions that were lifted hours later.
"But I guess that’s just politics."
Minister Watt did concede, however, both government and industry could do better in the future.
"Just like you have good and bad seasons, relationships between governments and lobby groups will have their ups and downs, whoever is in power," he said.
"Ironically, it wasn't that long ago that my predecessor from the other side of politics called the NFF 'ignorant', 'sideline critics' and 'cowards'.
"That's language you haven't heard from me, or any of my Labor colleagues."
Announced by incoming NFF president David Jochinke (pictured right) on Thursday morning, the national campaign will focus on key issues such as water buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin; the proposed ban of live sheep exports to the Middle East; worker shortages on farms and in the food supply chain; environment laws; transmission lines and competition policy.
“Farmers have always put food on the table for Australians and clothes on our backs, but decisions are being made in Canberra that will make it harder to do," Mr Jochinke said.
“They’re taking away the water, land and workers needed to grow food. That means fewer farmers doing what they do and when farmers grow less, everyone pays more."
The campaign launch comes only weeks after a national survey of more than 1600 farmers revealed falling confidence in the farming sector and reservations about the approach of the Albanese government.
The survey found the majority of farmers (54.3%) thought the federal government’s policies were harming the industry, and only 31.2% thought they were doing a good job for farmers.
Mr Jochinke urged farmers and consumers to unite behind the campaign and show their support by signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, contacting their local MP or making a donation to the campaign.
“In the coming months, decisions by the federal government threaten to shave billions off farm production. We need support to ensure we have the right policies that help keep farmers farming,” he said.
Specific outcomes sought as part of the “Keep Farmers Farming” campaign include:
Blockage of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill, which lifts the cap on water buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin;
Abandonment of plans to ban live sheep exports to the Middle East;
A shake-up of Australia’s competition laws to secure a fair deal for consumers and farmers;
A dedicated visa pathway for agricultural workers;
A mandatory code of conduct for transmission projects; and
Balanced reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to maintain productive land use.
