Australia's peak farm body is calling on farmers and supporters to join a rally in Canberra on 10 September - designed to push back on 'anti-farming agendas' which it says are increasingly dictating outcomes in Canberra.
The rally – initially called by the 'Keep the Sheep' live export campaign - will become an opportunity to highlight a broader range of farmer concerns: from a suite of new taxes, to the impact of water buybacks and energy infrastructure.
NFF President David Jochinke said it was important that the industry stood up to its detractors who were increasingly calling the shots in Canberra.
"We're seeing a growing number of decisions being driven by anti-farming activism, not evidence.
"We're being drowned out by the noisy minority who want to shut us down," Mr Jochinke said.
The rallying call follows a survey by the NFF that found confidence in the Federal Government had collapsed by nearly 40%, with less than 1 in 10 farmers now saying Canberra was listening to them, or had a positive plan for their future.
"Australian farmers are the best in the world. We consistently deliver the highest quality produce for Aussie families.
"We want policymakers to work with us to grow more in Australia. Too often it feels like they're just working with our detractors."
Priority concerns the industry will highlight at the rally include:
- The activist-led ban on live sheep exports by sea
- Calls to scrap the Diesel Fuel Rebate
- Proposed new taxes for biosecurity and on superannuation
- Calls to scrap the 88 days of specified work for backpackers
- Water buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin and protecting the Great Artesian Basin
- Unnecessary red tape from Scope 3 emissions reporting
- The community impacts of energy and renewables developments
"The common thread in every issue we're facing is that they're all driven by niche interest groups who don't understand or support Aussie farmers," Mr Jochinke explained.
"A rally is an unusual step for the NFF, but we hope it will send powerful message to decision-makers ahead of the next election that these decisions need to stop.
"We just want a return to common sense. We want policies informed by farmers' lived experience and designed to grow the industry, not diminish it to appease activist agendas.
"Whether you're a farmer or not, I encourage you to join us to celebrate the positive story of Australian agriculture in the heart of Canberra," Mr Jochinke concluded.
The rally will commence at 11am on 10 September on the Federation Mall, opposite Parliament House. For details visit nff.org.au.
