Address to ABARES Outlook, Canberra

It is fantastic to be back at ABARES Outlook again. 

I know this gathering is a really important opportunity for us - industry, government and stakeholders - to look forward in helping shape the future of agriculture. 

But I do want to start with some brief reflections of the past year.  

The last year has been another extraordinary year for Australian agriculture. 

An extraordinary year, with extraordinary challenges. 

I’ve been reminded of these challenges these past few weeks as I’ve travelled up and down the country to meet with farmers impacted by recent severe weather events. 

In central Victoria, which was ravaged by bushfires in January. 

To the Clermont and Emerald region in Queensland’s central highlands, where flooding took homes, livestock, crops and critical farming equipment. 

I spent time with Michael Henry, a proud apple and pear grower and cider maker in Harcourt outside of Bendigo. 

Michael had his historic orchards destroyed by the fires, along with his home, but his commitment to rebuild is unbreakable. 

Then in Queensland, John and Jan Burnett welcomed me to their farm, Homelea Downs, north of Clermont. 

It’s an enormous operation, normally home to thousands of hectares of high-quality grains, which were wiped out by the flooding. 

It was inspiring to hear about their recovery plans, and to see the first of their new plantations – corn – taking off.  

Of course, I have also spent a great deal of time since last year’s Outlook on the ground with farmers impacted by drought. 

Farmers like Kerry and Ben Heinrich, who welcomed me to their sheep farm, Manofield Australian Whites at Black Springs in South Australia. 

A farm that’s been dubbed the “Wagyu of Lamb,” but one that’s certainly experienced challenges during the tough drought conditions in recent years. 

Whether it’s flood, fire, or drought – the one thing that continues to stand out to me is the absolute determination of our farmers and producers. 

A determination to persevere, to adapt, and to rebuild. 

Our farmers and producers' sheer resilience to bounce back even in the most trying circumstances is an inspiration to all Australians. 

As is the community spirit we continue to see in every corner of the country. 

Where during the most difficult of times, we see the best of people, and their commitment to supporting their neighbours, and their communities. 

And I know our Government has an important role to play in supporting farmers and producers who have been impacted by hardship.  

So today, I once again commit to you that the Albanese Labor Government has your back. 

But of course, this perseverance isn’t just a trait that I know helps pull our farmers and producers through the bad times. 

It’s also the driver of our farmers and producers’ incredible success. 

And we do have a lot to celebrate... 

Today, ABARES releases updated data that forecasts Agriculture alone will top $101 billion in production value this financial year. 

When combined with forestry and fisheries, the total value of production will exceed more $107 billion. 

This extraordinary result is a credit to the hard work, resilience and skill of our farmers and producers, and the work industry and our government has done hand in hand. 

I want to acknowledge too, the advocacy and vision of the National Farmers Federation, who set the ambitious goal for Agriculture to be worth more than $100 billion by 2030 in 2018. 

When we came to office in 2022 Agriculture was worth around $88 billion.  

Under the Albanese Labor Government this value has jumped 15%. 

A big part of this production value has been our export success. 

And today, ABARES is forecasting agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports will reach almost $85 billion this financial year. 

This success is exceptional, but not surprising. 

There is a simple reason for this success – Australia’s farmers are responsible for the world’s best produce. 

And in our Government, they have a partner prepared to tirelessly advocate for this produce globally.  

We have worked tirelessly with farmers to ensure our world’s best produce is making it to more markets, more of the time.  

Under our Government, market access for our farmers and producers is the most diversified it has ever been. 

This is providing our farmers with the best platform for continued growth and today’s figures underscore this once again.  

In just the last year since the last Outlook conference we’ve delivered more opportunities for our farmers and producers. 

We’re sending apples to China, cherries and mangoes to Korea, and we’ve signed a lucrative bilateral wheat protocol with Indonesia. 

On top of these recent successes, the return of major trade opportunities, including $20 billion worth of resumed trade with China, has strengthened international demand for Australian products. 

But we cannot afford to take this success for granted. 

We know there are always challenges to our trade success. 

The events of recent days and weeks once again underscores the importance of our Government’s careful and considered approach to market access. 

And our Government has proudly stood for free and fair trade because we know the benefits it delivers our economy. 

Trade is a job creator. 

One in four Australian jobs are connected to trade and jobs associated with exports have 10 per cent higher average annual incomes.   

Today’s updated forecast from ABARES once again underscores the value of free and fair trade for Australia, helping to deliver a $100 billion agriculture industry and supporting jobs and incomes across regional Australia.  

While our Government will continue to back our farmers and producers through free and fair trade, our political opponents track record shows they have mismanaged important relationships.   

It’s clear the Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to continue delivering market access for our farmers and producers.

Which we know is central to the success of farmers and producers and the forecast that we rightly celebrate today. 

Of course we are not taking this success for granted which is why we will continue to progress market access outcomes for our farmers and producers. 

And we are safeguarding this success through the development of a new National Food Security Strategy, Feeding Australia. 

I had the great pleasure of committing our Government to this important strategy right here at ABARES Outlook last year. 

A year on, I’m proud to say that its development is taking shape. 

We have appointed a National Food Council, many of whom are in this room today, with broad expertise and experience across the food system. 

We had over 400 submissions to our discussion paper last year, and I thank you for this. 

And we’ve recently entered a co-design phase with stakeholders, with workshops underway across capital cities, regional and remote Australia. 

This broad input from across industry will ensure that Feeding Australia is truly reflective of the expertise, experience and the innovation of our farmers and producers. 

Because we value what each and every one of you do – and from day one, we’ve been committed to working with you. 

To deliver more opportunities at home and abroad, and to progress your priorities. 

Because we understand our agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries are critical to our regions, our economy and indeed our way of life. 

Some years will inevitably bring greater yields than others – our farmers and producers know this in their bones. 

That’s why our Government will continue to deliver the right settings for Australian agriculture to grow. 

While also ensuring that support is available when our farmers and producers need it. 

That’s what we’re committed to, and it’s the message I want to leave you with today. 

Australian agriculture is strong.  

Our production is record-breaking.  

The quality of our food and fibre is unmatched, and the world continues to want more of it. 

There will be challenges.  

There will be change.  

But there will also be opportunity.  

And our Government is here to back you through all of it. 

I hope you all have a great Outlook, and a fantastic year ahead.  

Thank you.