A Labor Government will shortchange the bush with not a single new dollar being committed to the regions to pay for the key promises it has made to farmers.
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders says while Labor had promised a $10 million ‘good neighbor’ program to tackle pests and weeds, Parliamentary Budget Office costings released yesterday suggest it will spend a total of $10 million to deliver all of its agriculture policies including the establishment of a new Independent Biosecurity Commission.
“Yet again Labor’s numbers don’t add up. Either it’s skimping on its promises or it’s fudging the numbers to improve its Budget bottom line,” Mr Saunders said.
“Labor had a chance to demonstrate it was serious about investing in the future of agriculture and it has failed the test.
“Labor’s total funding commitment to the $23 billion farm sector at this election is just $10 million – less than what it’s spending to bring cage fighting to Sydney. That’s not a genuine commitment, that’s a token nod.
“Worse still, it’s not even new money. Labor will instead rip $10 million out of the Regional Growth Fund to pay for it, redirecting that money away from other regional programs benefitting those communities.”
Mr Saunders said in comparison the NSW Liberals and Nationals had committed to:
A $1 billion expansion of the Farm Innovation Fund and a doubling in the amount farmers could borrow to futureproof their farm business
Launch of a new Better Environment, Better Farms Services Hub to help farmers tap into the value of their natural capital and build new revenue streams
Expansion of the AgSkilled program to help upskill and grow the agricultural workforce
“We’re investing in ag, now and for the future – and to protect that future we’ve made the biggest investment in biosecurity of any jurisdiction. Labor isn’t serious about ag and it shows.”