Labor’s farm plan welcome, but misses the mark

WAFarmers is disappointed the Labor party’s ‘Fair go for Farmers’ policy does not deliver on the real issues facing the agricultural sector.

While the announcement of an agriculture policy from the Labor party is welcome, the plan lacks details, especially on key issues such as profitability and competitiveness, WAFarmers President Dale Park said.

“Throughout the election campaign, WAFarmers has been detailing its five policy priorities which indicate the issues of biggest concern to our members,” Mr Park said.

“The Labor party’s plan reflects only one of those priorities – the need for a foreign investment register for all existing and future investment ventures.

“However, this was a commitment made by the former Prime Minister Julia Gillard last year and was an expectation farmers already held for the Labor party.”

The aspects of the announcement addressing financial supports, including reviewing the government’s Farm Finance Package and extending the Transitional Farm Family Payment are appreciated, but neither tackles the key issues of profitability and financial sustainability, according to Mr Park.

“The policy indicates the Labor party has some understanding of the challenges facing the agricultural sector, but these are minor commitments which will do little to rectify the conditions which prohibit the industry maintaining its profitability and financial competitiveness into the future,” Mr Park said.

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