Media Release

Senator Kerry O’Brien

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry

Tuesday, 20 November 2007

FEDERAL LABOR’S PLAN FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

A Rudd Labor Government will help secure a prosperous and sustainable future for Australia’s primary industries.

Under Federal Labor’s Plan for Primary Industries, a Rudd Labor Government will introduce a number of new reforms to Australia’s $38 billion agriculture sector, including:

1. Helping our primary industries prepare for climate change, with a $130 million package to help farmers adapt to climate change and harness new economic opportunities.
2. Fixing our quarantine system to prevent the introduction of exotic disease.
3. Fixing our wheat export marketing system to provide more choice for growers in the export market.
4. Getting the economic policy settings right to improve the profitability and productivity of our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.
5. Improving farm productivity through continued investment in research, development and extension.
6. Strengthening the role of farmers in the delivery of environmental services.
7. Strengthening the link between Exceptional Circumstances support and natural resource management policy objectives.
8. Fixing the regulatory framework to reduce red tape, reduce costs and improve profitability.

   A Rudd Labor Government will reprioritise $190 million over five years to invest in the development and growth of Australia’s primary industry sector.

   Labor has a proud history of introducing positive reforms to agriculture policy.

   Under the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments, significant agriculture policy reforms included:

9. The introduction of ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ policy for drought relief for farmers.
10. The forerunner to the Farm Management Deposit Scheme to help farmers to manage their uneven incomes between good and bad years.
11. Deregulation of the domestic wheat market to introduce competition and allow growers more choice in the domestic market.
12. The establishment of Rural Research and Development Corporations.
13. The creation of Landcare – an internationally acclaimed partnership between farmers and the environmental movement.

Each of these reforms has survived 11 years of the Howard Government because of the great benefits they continue to deliver to rural communities and industries.

But there is now more work to do to secure a prosperous future for the Australian farming community.

After 11 years of Howard Government inaction, there is a need for new leadership in primary industries.

For further information/comment:

Kerry O’Brien 0419 007 780
Martin Breen 0407 435 624