ANDREW WILLCOX LAUNCHES PETITION TO SCRAP LABOR’S FRESH FOOD TAX ON INDUSTRY’S DAY OF ACTION

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian farmers to fight Labor’s fresh food tax, which will hurt families and farmers amid a cost-of-living crisis.

A new petition, Stop the Fresh Food Tax, https://www.stopthefreshfoodtax.com/#action, is being launched by the Coalition, alongside industry’s ‘day of action’ to scrap the tax.

Mr Willcox is urging local farmers and families to get behind the campaign and sign the petition to stop Labor’s new fresh food tax.

“The Coalition proudly stands with the National Farmers’ Federation today and support our farmers on their day of action to scrap the tax,” Mr Willcox said.

“This is an absolutely ridiculous tax on our farmers who will be paying for their overseas competitors to bring their products into our country.

“We urge families and farmers in Dawson to join us in this fight and to sign the petition to stop Labor’s fresh food tax.

“This new tax will hurt all Australians because farmers will be forced to pass on costs, meaning families will feel more pain at the grocery checkout.

“Labor has continued to ignore our pleas to stop this senseless new tax. We still don’t know how the tax will be collected or managed. But we do know the tax will go towards consolidated revenue, hurting over 1,500 farmers and farm managers in the electorate of Dawson.

“Sadly, time is now running out to scrap Labor’s fresh food tax, which is due to be implemented on July 1, forcing farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international importers.

“The new tax makes absolutely no sense, and it will hurt families and farmers who are already under pressure. In what parallel universe would a government charge its own farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?”

A Senate inquiry into the levy is expected to hand down its report on Friday, ahead of an upcoming crucial Senate vote, with 84 agricultural commodities set to be taxed to raise $150 million.

Mr Willcox added Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt have shown contempt by appearing at Beef2024, despite preparing to launch a new fresh food tax on families and farmers and failing to settle a live export cattle case from 2011.