Could A Hung Parliament Save Agriculture?
AUSTRALIA - ABA Chairman Brad Bellinger has said that the most positive comments post election for rural Australia have come from North Queensland Independent Bob Katter.
25 August 2010
1 minute read
Mr Bellinger said that Independent Mr Katter gave a magnificient speech in June, criticising major political parties for pursuing policies that have destroyed Australia's agricultural sector.
Mr Bellinger said: “We have a crisis in Australia’s agriculture sector. A $55 Billion plus rural debt means that farmers continue to borrow money to produce food and fibre. Meanwhile, seven billion dollars worth of food were imported into Australia last year from third world countries with a lower cost of production than we have here, or from developed nations that directly subsidise their farmers. Bob Katter alone seems to understand the insanity of these policies”.
"Policies emanating from Shadow Minister John Cobb for an extra $150 million into Research and Development funding will do no more than feed already bloated companies, such as the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) , who are unable to account for most of their Research and Development expenditure and spend huge sums on self promotion."
Meanwhile, Minister Tony Burke has had three years to improve farmers’ returns but has contributed to their demise through the abolition of the Single Wheat Desk, aggressive water buy back policies, increased funding for MLA and attacks on a democratic Australian Wool Innovation.
TheCattleSite News Desk
