Publish Date : 07-Jul-2015
On Saturday, the government of Australia launched its Agriculture Competitiveness White Paper, with a commitment to introduce tax reforms on farmers, committing funds to provide water safety, transport and communication infrastructure, encouraging approaches to drought and risk management, and more investment in rural research and development. The white paper lists out real actions for the agricultural sector in five major areas.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, said, the white paper "is an investment in our farmers and our competitive strengths in agriculture". It added, "This is a vital part of our plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia."
According to Minister Joyce, the white paper is a US$3 billion investment in the Australian farmers. He added, "Our vision is to build a more profitable, more resilient and more sustainable agriculture sector to help drive a stronger Australian economy."
The first priority is the tax and regulation reforms. The government commits US$8.5 million to boost the engagement of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the country's competition regulator and national consumer law champion, with the agricultural sector also to include a new Commissioner specially for agriculture. Also, the government dedicated US$10.3 million in a two year pilot program to provide knowledge and materials on cooperatives, collective bargaining and innovative business models, helping farmers in establishing alternative business models (including cooperatives) and manage contract negotiations. The government commits towards better regulation and a better tax system for farm businesses.
The second priority is agricultural infrastructure to include those in water, transport and communications. The government dedicated US$375.3 million National Water Infrastructure Fund for farmers' future water security. For communications infrastructure, an additional US$45 million to be invested in addition to US$75 million Mobile Black Spot Program to improve mobile coverage across regional Australia.
Another priority involved in the white paper is the preparation for drought and risk management. The white paper adds US$2.47 million to ensure farmers can get more accurate, more local and more frequent seasonal forecasts. In Drought Concessional Loans, the government will allocate US$187.6 million each year for 11 years. Around US$26 million will be allocated for local infrastructure projects to help communities suffering due to drought and US$19.3 million over four years for management of pest animals and weeds in drought- affected areas.
According to the white paper, the agriculture sector needs access to the most advanced technologies and practices to continue to 'farm smarter.' Improvment towards international trade stands as the fifth priority in the white paper to grow farm businesses and increase financial returns for farmers. Around US$23 million will be added to break down technical barriers to trade and appointing five new Agriculture Counsellors.
Additionally, the government is to allot US$150 million to improve biosecurity surveillance and analysis nationally, including in northern Australia. US$9.3 million government commitment comes towards modernizing Australia's food export traceability systems to further enhance our food safety credentials.
Go to previous page
