Federal Shadow Minister For Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Nigel Scullion writes:
Budget estimates today revealed that Labor’s election promise to provide an additional $15 million to Australia’s rural research and development corporations has been broken.
Australia’s agricultural sector contributes an average of around 12% of our GDP and employs directly and indirectly 1.6 million people, or 1 in 6 of all jobs in this country.
Photo: Nigel Scullion is the Country Liberal Party Senator for the Northern Territory and Deputy leader of the Federal National Party. He is seen below talking to Graziers in the Northern Territory.
Page 7 Labor’s Election policy for their Plan for Primary Industries states:
“Strengthening Rural Research and Development”
Labor supports the current funding formula that provides for industry levies and matching funding by the Federal Government for investment in rural research. However, in recognition of declining revenues as a result of drought, a Rudd Labor Government will invest an extra $15 million in rural RDCs through Australia’s Farming Future.”
Labor have been in office for barely 6 months and all we have seen from the government is a sustained attack on Australian farmers.
Labor’s achievements to date include:
• Over $1 billion cut from the Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Budget
• Scrapping the successful Farmbis training program.
• Savagely cutting food innovation grants.
• Closing CSIRO agriculture research sites in Queensland, Victoria and WA, and now
• Broken election promise for support to rural research and development.
Australian farmers provide not only the nations food and fibre, they export high quality produce right around the world.
They successfully compete against foreign subsidies, a rising dollar and advances being made in developing countries. They achieve such success due to the continued investment in research, product and process development.
Labor has now placed farm productivity and farm viability at risk with their short sighted razor gang cuts.
Farmers must be asking themselves what they ever did to deserve such a savage attack upon their livelihoods.
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Have Your say! What do you think of Labors ‘Sustained Attack” on Austraiia’s farmers.
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Tags: Farming
Primary producers don’t vote Labour so what else would be expected?
G’day Andrew,
When the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stands up at his victory speech on election night and say’s that he and his Labor government will govern for all Australians including Rural & Regional Australian’s I think we have a right to expect better of them than this.
I think it is not so much that farmers “don’t vote labor’ but that REGARDLESS of the party in power, the farmer’s case can’t get past the PARTY LINE on issues. No Government is in tune with ‘the bush’ issues and the average Politician just doesn’t comprehend, nor wants to ruffle feathers. Recognize who is advising the Politicians….all Government Department shiny arses waiting for the day they get their super payout. Even those supposed to be representing us (Peak Bodies, NFF…)won’t raise their voice above a whisper for fear of upsetting the status quo.
Jen
Jenny has hit the nail on the head. Democracy and the individual elected member representing his/her constituents is basically dead.
The PARTY LINE is the means by which government takes control undemocratically and as a result the system as it is supposed to work fails.
Time is fast approaching where voting individuals should seriously consider whether they continue to support the major parties. Strong independent politicians under the current system is our only future, provided of course they don’t sell out to the “corrupt” system.
The other interesting point is; I rarely see a comment on this website from a member/supporter of the organisations that are touted to represent farmers or controlled by farmers(Cattle Council, MLA, NFF,SAFF) Why is that?? Are they hiding? Is Steve deleting their comments? Maybe some of them are so close to or are government that they can’t respond!!
G’day John,
Its a good point. Have no idea why they don’t engage, I guess years of not been called to order by the media might explain it.
Yes your correct - the only things that get edited are anything that is defamatory, racist, Swearing, bigoted etc etc or just plain spam.
I quote from above ….”Labor have been in office for barely 6 months and all we have seen from the government is a sustained attack on Australian farmers.” Unquote
Hang on how long was the previous government in power? If I recall earlier blog entries correctly they weren’t exactly seen as the champions of rural Australians….. Got to hand it to Labour 6 months in the job and look at the damage they’re caused to farmers livelihoods. Obviously the federal Nationals are far more effective in opposition than they were when they had a chance to really affect policy.
G’day Sue,
You are right - Agmates was at times very critical of the coalition government whilst it was in power.
However the issue here is that Labor came to power offering Rural & Regional Australians, particularly farmers a better deal. We here at Agmates supported Labor because of this - a better deal for Australian farmers.
Kevin Rudd and Labor has been very big on honoring its election promises, to everybody except farmers.
Nigel Scullion as Federal deputy leader of the National Party is right to point out and be outraged that farmers have been duded in this regard by the Labor party.
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All of the people in the farming , Fishing and transport industries need to join forces to fight the governmets . You now have a chance to join with people that will stand up and fight regardless of the costs . If you want any more infomation Phone 07 41 24 88 99 or Email : jamfig@austarnet.com.au
We are also now ready to get farm gate prices off of the farmers so we can show the consumers just how much they are being ripped off for and how little the farmer gets for their hard work . Please help us with this so we can try to get you more money at the farm gate for you and advise the consumers of the very high percentage that the majors are making off of them THIS WILL BE A TRUE PRICE WATCH . If you want a copy of the list please Email : jamfig@austarnet.com.au It will be on line for you to use within a few weeks @ agmates