Federal Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb MP believes that we should judge Prime Minister Julia Gillard by her deeds not her words.

“It takes more than a few frilly words to make good on farmers’ aspirations in Asia and Labor’s record of cuts makes that job harder than ever.” Mr Cobb said.

“The hype around Labor’s latest grand announcement of a White Paper into the Asian Century is more fluff for agriculture. The sentiment is right, but the prospects of proximity are more about the politics of pretending and contradict the reality of this government.  Growth in Asian-bound exports should be pursued but we, as a nation, need to be geared for growth if our farmers are to capitalise. That means building relationships with our Asian neighbours, low business costs and investing in research and development to increase production.”

Mr Cobb claims that the government’s actions in reality, are undermining our opportunities in these three key areas.  

“Our relationship with key trading partners has been undermined by sovereign risk. The recent unilateral Live Export Ban and policy backflip on the super trawler not only had enormous implications for our industries and the businesses and communities that rely on them, but it sent a loud and clear signal that Australia is a sovereign risk and countries are now looking to diversify their markets away from Australia rather than expand them.

The removal of the 40% AQIS Inspection certification rebate has been a massive hit on our exporters especially new and emerging industries which have seen registration costs go up by up to 1000%.  While the Gillard Government is saying we need to expand the number of industries that can capitalise on the Asian century yet it has hit them with a massive increase in costs that makes exports prohibitively expensive.”

John Cobb highlights the fact that while we all deal with the world’s biggest carbon tax,  we are competing with countries particularly in Asia, who don’t pay this kind of tax. It leaves businesses in Australia at a huge disadvantage and so Gillard’s talk of taking advantage of Asian opportunities is simply rhetoric as we simply cannot compete – it is not a level playing field and it is her government that has betrayed Australian business. It makes her Asian White paper sound farcical.

Mr Cobb also makes the point that  research and development into how we grow our production is critical, if Australia is to make the best of the Asian opportunity.to make the most of this.  “The Government again talks about the importance of Research and Development but this is contradicted by its record.”

• The government says research and development is a key to capitalise on the Asian Century. Yet it has axed Land and Water Australia and cut $63 million in CSIRO agricultural research.

• A further $33.4 million was cut from Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), which means fewer agricultural CRCs are funded each year.

• Labor dumped both agriculture and horticulture from federal government’s apprenticeship incentive scheme.

• Labor also originally planned to support the Productivity Commissions report which recommendation halving the government’s contribution to Research and Development Corporations.

• Since 2007, the annual operating budget at the Department of Agriculture has more than halved – chopped from $3.8 billion to just $1.7 billion. Of that $1.7 billion, almost half is actually industry levies and cost recovery.

“There is enormous opportunity for our farmers to capitalise on Asian growth, changing diets and rising affluence, but Labor has done everything possible to undermine Australian farmers.

Governments need to build relationship, focus on increasing research and development and reduce costs for exporting farm industries – each is the antithesis of the lived experience under Labor.

Apart from some rhetoric in a document, nothing for agriculture has changed. The rhetoric and reality are starkly at odds.” Said Mr Cobb.

 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed above are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher; www.theissue.com.au