NFF NEEDS YOUR HELP TO KEEP FARMERS FARMING

The National Farmer’s Federation (NFF) has launched its largest protest campaign in almost 40 years as Labor continues to decimate the industry and the regions.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said that the extraordinary step taken by the NFF is a desperate attempt to save farming from the Labor government who has torn up farming confidence in the regions.

“As a third-generation farmer, I can see what this current Labor government is doing to farmers across our region and it’s reckless, senseless, and is going to have dire consequences,” Mr Willcox said.

“I worked the land for most of my life, and I agree with what the new NFF President David Jochinke said at the NFF Conference a week ago; farmers are in the fight of their lives, and it’s only going to get worse if the Labor government don’t do something about it now.

“Every single Australian is feeling the impact of the pain and hurt being put onto farmers. The end result of Labor’s bad policies is that families and vulnerable Australians are being forced to pay more for food at the checkout.

“During the current cost-of-living crisis we cannot afford to continue to let this happen and Minister Watt and the Albanese Labor Government should be embarrassed that it has reached this point.”

Mr Willcox said that while scrapping the EU trade deal, that would have severely disadvantaged Aussie farmers was a good start, farmers are still being punished in every possible way right now.

“It’s unfortunate that the EU trade deal couldn’t come to a mutually beneficial agreement and walking away was the right thing to do at this time, however it is now time to focus on what the current Australian government is doing that disadvantages our farmers.

“Instead of taxing international importers for their biosecurity risks, the Labor government wants to make Australian farmers pay more to cover these importers costs.

“The new fresh food tax will impact all farmers and push up food prices. It’s unfathomable that they would try to do this to an industry that already has so much working against it from draught, to floods, and cyclones.”

The Labor government has also refused to reinstate the Agriculture Visa after peak food industry bodies warned that agriculture required an additional 172,000 workers.

“Only around 16,000 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers have come in since Labor got into office, and it’s making it difficult and costly for farmers to get their product from paddock to plate.

“The PALM scheme has introduced some serious roadblocks for our farmers who are now being forced to offer a minimum of 30 hours per week, despite agriculture work being seasonal and weather dependent.”

Mr Willcox also warned that other policies such as the water buyback scheme, which has the potential to reduce farm production by $9 billion, will hurt regional communities and drive-up food prices.

“It’s no wonder our farmers are on their knees and are now begging the Labor government to stop destroying their industry.

“Along with everything else, the Labor government want to rip up prime agricultural land. Chopping down thousands of hectares of native bushland and pristine farmland for wind farms is senseless.

“They’re also destroying the livelihoods of 3000 people and an industry worth $85 million by banning live sheep exports.

“Labor’s ideologies are putting our food and fibre production at risk. We need to support, protect, and grow our farming industry and that’s obviously not going to happen under a Labor government.”

To support the campaign and to keep farmers farming, visit keepfarmersfarming.org.au