Growing exports for farmers

Farmers across the region are set to reap the benefits of a Coalition government trade push in the 2018-19 budget.

Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said a $51.3-million package in the budget would give Australian agriculture stronger representation in Europe and the UK, Latin America and across key markets in Asia.

“This government is delivering more market access so farmers can have choice as to where they sell their produce, and can negotiate for the best prices,” he said.

“We are funding six new agricultural counsellor positions in key emerging export markets and extending five counsellor positions in Vietnam, Malaysia, the Middle East, China and Thailand.

“Free-trade agreements can reduce tariffs, but we need market access agreements for each specific commodity before our farmers can export their produce there.

“Agricultural counsellors give us market access agreements by working through the science for each commodity with each relevant country. An example of this would be counsellors working to improve market access and lift suspensions in Malaysia for beef and veal.”

Agriculture and Water Resources minister David Littleproud said the Coalition continued to be the ‘kings of free trade agreements’, with the TPP-11 the most recent to be signed.

“The TPP-11 opens Australia up to markets worth a total of $13.8-trillion and we are in a great position to capitalise on that, meaning more money and more opportunities for our farmers,” he said.

“We also continue to give farmers a fair go through measures such as doubling farm management deposits to $800,000 and instant asset write-offs for fodder and water storage to build drought resilience.

“Farmers and small businesses will continue to have access to the $20,000 instant asset writeoffs for a further 12 months to enable them to replace or upgrade things like the old work ute.”