TasFarmers Matters - David Littleproud heard growers’ concerns

Too often Tasmanian farmers feel like the third wheel, the spare tyre or the poor cousin when it comes to influencing the national agenda.

While we punch above ourweight when it comes to productivity and the quality of the things we grow, the big island rarely considers us.

That is why it is important to take every advantage when political leaders visit the state.

This week TasFarmers hosted the federal National Party leader David Littleproud for a roundtable to discuss the impact of escalating price and regulatory pressures on Tasmanian agriculture.

This was an opportunity for growers to put their experience to the Shadow Minister for Agriculture and get our message across.

That message was loud and clear – what are the long-term implications for food security if nothing changes.

This is what worries farmers – the status quo won’t help the future.

Members outlined the origins of our current Fair Food, Fair Price campaign, drawing on the 2005 Fair Dinkum Food campaign where Tassie growers drove to Canberra to highlight unfair farmgate pricing and the effect on local growers.

After 20 years we are back where we started.

Our recent rally in Deloraine drew over 60 tractors and 160 growers, signalling the depth of concern.

Policy-makers are finally taking notice, which is why David Littleproud came to Tasmania – to see and listen for himself.

Several key issues emerged: national food security, the threat of cheap, low-quality imports, the danger to agricultural land from rare-earth mining exploration and carbonoffset activities and regulatory changes hampering farming.

Tasmanian farmers know these issues – they live them every day just as we as a farming organisation advocating for a better deal for members do.

Change cannot be effected without those who seek government, or government itself, understanding the issues.

So, what did he have to say? Well, plenty, some we’ve heard before, but refreshingly, there appeared to be a strong desire to adjust policy to ensure change.

This was an opportunity toput locals’ positions to him, such as developing a nationally aligned food security strategy and the need to pursue strong competition reform, including supermarket oversight.

We gave him examples of poor freight and road infrastructure and the need to protect farmland.

Above all, time with the Nationals leader reinforced the need to engage with political representatives of all stripes.

We are an apolitical organisation and talk farming to anyone who cares to listen.

We look forward to speaking with Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins again soon.