Coalition policies ease farmer gripes
Despite fears of what the new coalition government might mean for the rural sector, farmers are finding it hard to be grumpy with initial policies.
The injection of $1 billion annually into the regions, the dropping of the water tax, boosting biosecurity, an increase of spending on research and development and the honouring of Crown investment in irrigation have all been given the thumbs up. But the decision to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2020 has not been welcomed, and nor has the policy to bring agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Federated Farmers president Katie Milne said the government’s determination to invest in areas such as regional economies and biosecurity were ‘‘promising signs of intent’’.
‘‘Obviously we await to see the detail and what provinces will benefit directly. But I’m sure I speak for most farmers and say this is a welcome, progressive step.’’
‘‘It’s really encouraging to see that the new government is taking into account the importance of the primary sector.’’
The federation was ‘‘delighted’’ to see biosecurity was going to be boosted in the face of recent incursions.
Since 2008 there have been more than 150 biosecurity incursions, including major ones such as Mycoplasma bovis, pea weevil, and velvet leaf. An incremental rise in research and development spending - of 2 per cent over 10 years - was a good start, Milne said.
‘‘The science community has a significant role to play in helping make farmers more environmentally sound, while keeping us at the forefront as a competitive food exporter. Ideally we would like to see more investment and perhaps in a shorter time frame.’’
While welcoming the decision to honour funding that had been committed to Crown Irrigation Investments, which provides seeding money to kickstart irrigation schemes, Milne hoped the government would not close the door on new irrigation schemes and improvements to existing ones.