Brad Bellinger, New England NSW farmer and ABA Chairman writes:
Australian Beef Association Chairman Brad Bellinger said today, “I urge those very fortunate rural voters in electorates where candidates who are standing that are intelligent and have independent views, to consider voting for them. These vital but scarce qualifications may mean looking beyond the major political parties.  More than ever in rural Australia, there is a desperate need for politicians who will put their constituent’s interests, above their own party politicsâ€.
“Over the last eleven years, we have witnessed party politics in action within the Coalition resulting in them forcing through legislation, which on occasions, was against the will and best interests of the farming and the wider rural community,†Mr Bellinger continued.
Mr Bellinger said, “I agree with the Mayor of the Wakool Shire Ken Trevin, who was quoted as saying, ‘We have a policy crisis’†when he was leading a protest rally in Canberra over the Howard Government theft of water from the Murray Valley irrigators.
We have also seen the Coalition join forces with State Labor Governments in forcing through legislation that is making the farming community unviable. Ten years ago we did have a distinction between the Liberal and National Parties but that has become clouded; - the distinction between the Coalition and Labor is now going the same way.
Mr Bellinger said, “There is a long list of policy disasters that include the Native Vegetation Act, the Johne’s eradication program, the Dairy Deregulation and specific to the cattle industry, the white elephant that is the National Livestock Identification System. All of the policies were initiated by State Labor Governments and unfortunately supported in various ways by the Commonwealth Coalition Governmentâ€.
Mr Bellinger stated, “Cronyism seems to be at risk of becoming endemic in the Federal Government.  Various highly unrepresentative farm sector Peak Councils which are funded to promote Government policy and their leadership so are then reluctant to criticize the Federal Government, when deserved. The current NFF advertising campaign against Labor is more a result of political cronyism than an intelligent analysis of Labor’s policies.
If the decay in rural Australia is to be halted, we must have in power, leaders who can promote policy to stop the rot.  The Federal Governments $2.74 Billion drought aid package, of which only $1 billion has been spent is insignificant when compared to the $ 6 Billion spent on the first home buyers’ scheme that has done nothing but cause house prices to boom, beyond an affordable level for many Australians.
Mr Bellinger said, “The only recent glimmer of hope has come from the Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce. He is someone who is prepared to cross the floor and vote against the Government and to stand up for his constituent’s best interests. We need more politicians with intelligence, plus a conscience and not just loyalty to their Party.
 If the major parties cannot reform themselves, then perhaps more Independents may be our only long term hope.  The ABA hopes rural voters will quiz their candidates closely, before they give them their voteâ€, Mr Bellinger concluded.
For more information please contact Brad Bellinger on 02 6725 4282 Mob 0428 765 421, Linda Hewitt 07 4623 3707 Mob 041 978 9211
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