Mr PERRETT (Gympie—LNP) (2.12 pm): Federal Labor’s budget has failed agriculture. It
confirms that Labor is not a friend of agriculture and of everyone who lives, works and invests in our
regions. National Farmers’ Federation President Fiona Simson said the budget is ‘wanting when it
comes to some of agriculture’s greatest challenges’. She said—
We can’t turn a blind eye to the pressure this is putting on household budgets. There are steps the Government can and should
take … like improving access to labour, bolstering supply chain infrastructure, and securing our access to water.
There are cuts to major infrastructure like Urannah Dam and Hells Gates Dam, the cancellation
of the ag visa and the 50 per cent rise in electricity prices. Whether in Canberra or Brisbane, Labor has
no clue about agriculture, about rural and regional communities. At least federal Labor recognises that
biosecurity threats exist but, as AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said, more needs to be done to protect
farmers. He said that the budget had failed to deliver on its clear election promise to do more to establish
a sustainable and secure funding stream for Australia’s biosecurity system. For years I have warned
about biosecurity risks, yet under Minister Furner animal welfare and biosecurity officers have been cut
over successive years. It is either ignorant or deliberately indifferent. Federal Labor is no different.
Michael Guerin said—
The time has come for Labor to put its money where its mouth is and make the long-term commitment to biosecurity that it
promised voters.
He warned—
… there are a host of diseases and pests lurking in the shadows, poised to attack our crops, pastures and livestock at any
moment, and it’s frustrating that the Government is yet to deliver on its election promise to deliver long-term sustainable funding
arrangement to keep this country safe.
I have been visiting primary producers across our state. Whether in Bowen, Ayr, Mareeba or the
Atherton Tablelands, calls to act on labour shortages are unanimous. Today’s Queensland Country Life
has an article headed ‘Lack of workforce holds agriculture to ransom’. Labour shortages and
skyrocketing costs are impacting grocery prices at the checkout. They are pushing up fruit and
vegetable prices on supermarket shelves.
Labor’s cut of the ag visa is politically motivated, misguided and reckless and will make things
worse. Labor’s election commitment to cover worker travel costs under the Pacific Australia Labour
Mobility scheme will be replaced by underwriting the scheme. It is a broken election promise. Growcom
called the underwriting scheme a ‘poor consolation prize’. AgForce said it was ‘rubbing salt into the
wounds of the loss of the ag visa initiative’. The labour crisis is a major barrier to farm production, and
without a real solution production costs will continue to rise and consumers will be hit with even higher
grocery prices. Labor is failing agriculture, failing consumers and failing rural and regional communities.
