22 April 2025. Michael Guerin, AgForce CEO.
AgForce is calling for boldness and inclusivity from all political parties in their election commitments around nature.
Not more posturing, empty undertakings, and exclusion from the development of new policy settings as we have seen in abundance from all sides this term.
A great example of this is how in the dying moments of the 47th parliament, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025 was snuck through.
It is difficult not to roll the eyes at the obvious political expediency shown by the passing of that legislation, especially in the context of the pending election, as the issue had long been in front of the Environment Minister for consideration.
In short, the bill limits the ability of the Environment Minister to go back and reconsider a past approval - if the conditions of the approval are being met - not a bad thing if you want investment confidence!
But what's more galling for industry and regional communities is that the desperately needed broad-based reform of 'Nature Positive' laws has been sidelined yet again without resolution by another term of parliament.
Instead of bringing in the courageous policy settings so critical for the future of our industry, all we saw was a small politically convenient last-minute manoeuvre and not so much as a whimper from elsewhere in the chamber.
The opportunity for Australia and all Australians is vast if we collectively embrace this challenge, but the necessary reform of the Act is way overdue to enable that to be realised across environmental, social and economic elements.
Just in February of this year, ABARE released the first ever Australian 'National Ecosystem Accounts' - showing a $43b opportunity.
The appraisal was a financial assessment of our ecosystems - including deserts, grasslands, native forests, rivers, streams, coastal areas and oceans..
Industry, Regional and Rural Australia and the wider community need to work together as equals in the co-design work of this critical reform process.
This was sadly absent in attempts at the reform process in this past term of Federal government.
The fact is - our agricultural industry has much to contribute to the conversation and reform agenda.
Let's keep the pressure on all parties on this issue all the way to May 3, and then grab the opportunity we know is there with both hands.
Further strengthening food security and building resilient landscapes go hand in hand - what an opportunity we have to highlight to all Australians how crucial we are to that equation.
