LOCAL FARMERS URGED TO HELP STOP LABOR’S FRESH FOOD TAX

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is urging farmers and families in his electorate to help stop Labor’s fresh food tax by registering interest to have their say online.

Consultation has now opened into Labor’s Sustainable Funding to Strengthen Biosecurity | Have Your Say - Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

The hardworking Dawson MP said farmers and families in Dawson would be impacted by Labor’s new tax, which would push up the price of fresh food.

“In my electorate of Dawson, approximately 1,504 farmers are likely to be affected by this new tax, which comes into effect on July 1, 2024,” Mr Willcox said.

“As a third-generation farmer myself, I know just how critical farmers are to our region. They support rural communities and provide us with fresh, healthy and affordable food.

“The new tax on farmers will inevitably be passed onto consumers, which means even higher grocery bills, which is something we just can’t afford.

“As the Member for Dawson, I am determined to stop this new tax on our farmers and our food. I urge locals in Dawson to register their interest, to help stop this senseless new tax.”

The new tax is a biosecurity levy on farmers, set at a rate equivalent of 10 per cent of the 2020-21 industry-led levies.

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud added it had been almost three months since the Budget and there was still no new information into the biosecurity levy.

“It is unfathomable the Labor Government would ask farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers from other countries,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Instead of taxing farmers, a future Coalition Government will scrap this tax. Under our plan, importers of foreign products will pay for the biosecurity risk they pose – not Australian farmers.”

For more information go to www.haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-funding