MORRISON-JOYCE FARM FAILURES THREATEN A BUMPER CROP

Julie Collins MP.
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2 years ago
MORRISON-JOYCE FARM FAILURES THREATEN A BUMPER CROP
Julie Collins MP
New ABARES forecasts released today highlight the litany of failures by the Morrison-Joyce Government which could threaten a bumper crop for Australian farmers.
 
While Labor welcomes forecasts showing the value of agricultural production is set to rise after the terrible impact of the drought, the Morrison-Joyce Government must do more so this opportunity is not squandered.
 
The risks to the outlook for exports revealexactly what Labor had warned: farm worker shortages would end up hurting farmers and hitting Australian consumers.
 
If Scott Morrison had done his job on vaccines and national quarantine, farmers would not be facing another harvest with such significant labour shortages. 
 
The Morrison-Joyce Government must now act on these crippling shortages which are hurting farms across the country and driving up the cost of fresh produce for Aussie consumers according to ABARES.
 
This includes revealing details about the proposed agriculture visa and properly responding to the National Agriculture Workforce Strategy report.
 
The Morrison-Joyce Government has had the strategy report since October last year but is still yet to respond. 
 
The ABARES report also flags risks from the impact of the ongoing mouse plague, which David Littleproud has simply dismissed as a problem for the states. 
 
The Morrison-Joyce Government cannot keep ignoring this problem and must do more to support farmers hit by this terrible plague. 
 
The Government cannot risk the huge opportunities of the upcoming harvest with more inaction.
Agriculture and Water Resources