17 December 2024. Michael Guerin, AgForce CEO.
What a successful year its been for industry and agricultural advocacy, overcoming some woefully inadequate policy.
From forcing delays to deforestation insanity, to stopping mining giant Glencore from potentially poisoning the main source of water for much of inland Australia, to suspending ill-targeted so-called 'nature positive' reforms, which were essentially anti-industry amendments in disguise.
We also got industry back into the conversation (as they should always have been) on emissions reductions, as well as halting plans to tax unrealised gains on super funds.
All of these triumphs are because of the power of agricultural advocacy, and the members who support our efforts with their valuable time and funding.
As we all (hopefully) get a little downtime with family and friends over the festive season, it's worth reflecting on the not-so-insignificant wins for industry campaigns in 2024 and the opportunity this provides us in 2025.
We have a federal election pending sometime in the first half of 2025.
The outcomes of our work in 2024 give us a solid foundation to lean into this election, seeking commitments from all political parties for the next term of government that work for all - industry, communities, and the environment.
That opportunity is only amplified by the momentum we generated in 2024 with examples such as what I touched on above.
The polls are showing a shift in sentiment that should have all political parties fighting for every vote and not making any assumptions.
This is a potentially rich recipe when combined with the significant progress we achieved in 2024.
All political parties need to be fully aware of the criticality and fragility of food security in Australia (and more broadly) but also the strong interrelationship between strengthening environmental and social outcomes and lifting food production and industry productivity.
The magic ingredient to all these opportunities coming together of course are policy settings that allow this to happen.
That would encourage the opportunity to be realised across environment, community, and industry. A pretty simple ask, but one that has evaded the political discourse to date.
My hope is that the considerable work of AgForce and others gives us a shot at making this opportunity a reality in 2025, starting with the federal election. Here's hoping.
