Interview with Amelia Bernasconi, ABC Country Hour

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC COUNTRY HOUR
TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

SUBJECTS: Albanese Labor Government listening to farmers; live export industry

AMELIA BERNASCONI, HOST: Well, Minister, thanks for your time today. How do you feel that thousands of farmers are descending on Canberra as we speak, so many frustrated with a lot of agriculture policy from your government?

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: Look, I understand that some of the farmers are doing it tough, as are some in the Australian community, which is why we’ve been working hard as a government to support farmers and to make sure that we listen and we hear them. I had a meeting yesterday, I've had plenty of engagement with farmers as well as farming representatives since coming into the portfolio just a month or so ago, listening to their concerns. And certainly, as a government, we have been responding. We've invested now over a billion dollars additional funding into biosecurity to ensure that we protect Australia's borders, and we protect our exports from pests and diseases. We've obviously put a lot of time and energy into trade, into reopening up trade routes, into exploring new trade routes, and obviously even today - a new announcement around plums and getting our plums into Vietnam, which is great news for some of our stone fruit growers across the country. So, you know, we are working hard to support farmers and the farming community.

BERNASCONI: Well, unfortunately, it doesn't seem that they feel that way. I mean, we're seeing thousands of people, convoys coming over from the West. You know, this began as plans for a ‘Keep the Sheep’ rally, but now you mentioned there your focus on biosecurity, but there's concerns around taxes on that, taxes on superannuation, the Murray-Darling Basin buybacks, the scope three emissions, renewables on top of, of course, the live export phase out. Do you think that farmers have a right to feel that the government isn't listening, despite all these conversations you seem to be having?

COLLINS: Well, look, everybody's always got a right to have a protest and to have views and to air them. My job as Minister is to hear them, to listen to them and to work constructively as part of a government to help and support and grow our agricultural community. I mean, our agriculture in Australia is continuing to grow and it's worth over $84 billion now. My job, as I see it, is supporting that sector continue to grow, but importantly, thrive and to take advantage of, you know, what we're seeing is more sustainability right across the globe as, of course, we deal with climate change and to make sure that we continue to have access to markets and our farmers continue to thrive.

BERNASCONI: But do you think though - I mean, the ag sector is obviously losing confidence in the Labor Government here. Do you think we can still reach that $100 billion target by 2030? They feel there's just too much red tape at the moment.

COLLINS: Look, I do think I'm very optimistic about agriculture going forward. Certainly, you know, the discussions that we've been having and the work we've been doing with the industry in terms of sustainability, with our agriculture and land sector plan. There are opportunities here for farmers - our Future Made in Australia, there are opportunities again for farmers, particularly in low carbon biofuels. We as a government are working to make sure that our agricultural industry remains strong and continues to grow.

BERNASCONI: Do you think today is just a stunt?

COLLINS: Look, I can understand the frustration. You know, I know that some farmers are doing it tough, as are some in the Australian community and, you know, they've got a right to come to Canberra. I offered to meet with them. I'm not getting that opportunity, but I am meeting with the National Farmers Federation. I am meeting with the Live Export Council. I'll continue to engage.

BERNASCONI: Well, I understand this is the first National Farmers Federation-endorsed protest since the Hawke Government. I mean, it's going to be huge - like we said; convoys have come across from the West, people from all over the nation, all over different agricultural industries, are coming to Canberra. Will any of it really change your mind, though?

COLLINS: Well, we always listen to concerns from communities, including the agriculture and the farming community. Certainly, as Minister for the last month or so, I've been getting out and about engaging and listening very carefully to people's concerns and how people are going and listening to them about, you know, how things are for them on their farm.

BERNASCONI: Is the door still open for further conversations?

COLLINS: Absolutely.

BERNASCONI: Before live export is phased out, though? Live export in particular?

COLLINS: Well, live export we took to the election as a commitment. It's now passed the parliament. I see our job now as delivering a smooth transition. I'm happy to engage on the transition. It's my intention to travel to Western Australia to engage further in terms of the transitions and to have those discussions.

BERNASCONI: Minister, what do you say to those, particularly ‘mum and dad’ farmers? They're out there working 12 to 14-hour days. I know, in the north of NSW, Queensland, they're gearing up for grains harvest. What do you say to them, who feel like they're underappreciated by the government at the moment?

COLLINS: Well, I'd say I can understand that, as I said before, that some farmers are doing it tough, but absolutely our sector is appreciated, and you've seen that from all the work that our government has done by investing in biosecurity, by investing in trade and exports and making sure that our farmers can actually continue to export what is a great product. You know, we have a great record, a world-renowned biosecurity system, food safety systems that our farmers and our country gets huge advantage from, and I want to continue to make sure that our farmers continue to get that sort of access.

BERNASCONI: Minister, really appreciate you speaking to the Country Hour today.

COLLINS: Thanks very much.