Getting Agriculture on the Political Agenda

With two election campaigns underway in Western Australia, one for a state election in March 2013 and the Federal election scheduled for September 2013, it promises to be a long year of promises.  For the farm sector, this often means rhetoric from both sides of politics usually relating to capturing opportunities that will arise in the Asian century. 

Various farm lobby groups including the National Farmers Federation have called for agriculture to be put higher on the national agenda.  Most farmers I have spoken to would agree with this sentiment but what does it actually mean and what policy outcomes will result? 

Many in the rural sector feel completely disenfranchised at the moment.  Issues such as the live export ban, the ramifications of which are still being felt by those in the industry, and the milk discounting saga have many feeling disillusioned as well as under pressure financially. 

Here in Western Australia, the State Government (through a National Party minister) put up pastoral lease rents by up to 700 per cent and with our local Government continuing to put rates up and providing no services, we have copped it from all angles. 

Politicians are quick to throw around phrases like “Australia becoming the food bowl of Asia” but are much slower to put in position policies that may assist the sector.  Indeed many of the policies put in place recently will make it harder for Australia to become the food bowl of Asia – consider the mistrust of Australia by Indonesia as a result of the live export ban. 

Getting Agriculture back on the political agenda really means that rural Australia will not be forgotten by our political leaders.  When decisions are taken the consequences of these decisions are fully considered and not taken to appease minority groups.  In addition, the ramifications of actions need to be thought through.  Cheap milk from supermarkets may be good for consumers in the short term, but the long term consequences will be fewer dairy farmers and more expensive milk. 

There are many policy decisions that could be taken by all three levels of Government that would increase confidence in the sector and demonstrate that agriculture is back on the political agenda.  These include:

·         Better engagement with trading partners including Indonesia

·         Commitment to publicly funded agricultural research

·         Restriction on the market power of the supermarket duopoly

·         Reduction in Government charges. 

·         Reduction in Government regulation. 

·         Commitment to training. 

The list could go on and on, however, the reality is that it will be difficult to achieve a higher profile for agriculture given the minimal voting power of farmers.  To achieve the higher profile we need effective lobbying from representative groups including the National Farmers Federation, supported by strong membership of the various organisations.  In addition, there needs to be actions at the grass roots from individual primary producers. 

In the end all most farmers want is a “fair go” from Government at all levels – we are not getting that at present.