Agriculture and Fisheries

Key points

Only the Coalition Government will continue to back in Australia’s agriculture and fisheries industries – just as Liberals and Nationals always have.

No ifs, no buts.

Only the Coalition has a plan to keep our economy strong, and our rural and regional areas strong. A plan to respect landholders and fishers, innovate with world-best technology, build resilience and expand markets to create jobs.

Under our Government, our farm, fishery and forestry sectors have gone from strength to strength, with a record combined production gross value of $86.8 billion forecast to be reached in 2021-22.

When the Coalition was elected in 2013, the same production was worth about $55.8 billion.

Today, Australia’s agriculture and fisheries industries employ more than 300,000 people.

The industry continues to grow despite the challenges of drought, bushfires, floods and the global pandemic.

Only the Coalition ensures the right settings are in place to let our farmers get on with the job of producing world-best food, fibre and seafood. In the last year alone, we’ve committed over $1.7 billion to help the agricultural industry reach its ambitious goal of $100 billion farm gate output by 2030.

Under the Coalition Government the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are forecast to reach $3.55 billion in value in 2021-22. The aquaculture sector reached its target of $2 billion in 2021-22, five years ahead of the target set under our National Aquaculture Strategy.

The 2022-23 Budget saw a record $21 billion investment to ensure our regions have the critical transport, industries, skills, water and communications infrastructure they need to thrive.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• invest $127.4 million through the Digital Services to Take Farmers to Market initiative to further streamline export processes.
• deliver new market access opportunities for our agriculture and fisheries sector through the entry into force of our free trade deals with the United Kingdom and India.
• continue to pursue new free trade agreements with the European Union, European Free Trade Association and the United Arab Emirates.
• implement a Domestic Standard for Organics to develop the industry and support exports, in consultation with the industry.
• establish a National Livestock Genebank and continue the Australian Pastures Genebank with $8.2 million over four years from 2022-23 and $1.6 million ongoing from 2026-27 to secure high value genetic lines.
  
• finalise the legislation for a voluntary agriculture biodiversity stewardship market and invest $27.3 million to establish a fully-automated trading platform and to provide direct support to farmers for participation. We’re improving the tax arrangements for farmers’ income from carbon and biodiversity projects.
• maintain the National Landcare Program, which supports practical on the ground environmental action while supporting jobs in the Agriculture sector.
• consult with industry on a mandatory repair information sharing scheme for agriculture machinery.
• Promote regional tourism with $20 million of tourism grants for small wineries, distilleries and breweries to accelerate the development of tourism infrastructure.
• invest $30 million in a new National Centre for Digital Agriculture and lift the uptake of digital technology through our eight regional Innovation Hubs.
• continue to support our Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme that played such a vital role for our primary industries through the pandemic.
• continue to sign up countries to the Australian Agriculture Visa Program, building on the agreement with Vietnam.
• bring young Australians back to farms through an 18-month pilot, $75 million Future Farmer Guarantee Scheme to support farmers into first time ownership.
• invest $12 million on agricultural trade events, such as Beef Australia, and $15.4 million to continue to improve our agricultural shows’ infrastructure.
• invest $10 million over four years to build on the National Farm Safety Education Fund to keep our farmers, fishers and foresters safe.
• ensure that no fisheries solely managed by the Commonwealth will be overfished and deliver security of access to fishing rights for the recreational and wild-catch sectors, including by amending the cancellation provisions in the Fisheries Management Act 1991.
• invest $1.5 million over two-years to extend and expand the ‘Stay Afloat’ trial program to deliver mental health support to fishers across Australia.
• improve the transparency and efficiency of the marketing of Australian seafood through a voluntary seafood origin labelling system and harmonisation of certification arrangements.
• maintain our robust Australian Marine Park network in its current form, providing certainty to our fishers.
• deliver resource sharing agreements for key recreational species, and assist in designing the principles of resource sharing allocation for stocks managed by the jurisdictions through the National Fisheries Plan.

Labor will put all this at risk.

Over the last 30 years, Labor has delivered higher unemployment, higher interest rates, and higher electricity prices.

Labor can’t say how they’ll pay for their promises. That means higher deficits and higher taxes.

And they can’t manage money.

Labor’s team of union officials and political operatives just doesn’t get the economy.

They certainly don’t understand regional Australia.

They have already promised unnecessary new regulations on contractors and labour hire, have a stated position to end live sheep exports and have failed to support the Australian Agriculture Visa.

Meantime, the unions vilify farmers and insult the Australians who feed and clothe us.

Labor have a history of restricting access to our oceans for commercial and recreational fishers.

They did it when last in government through their Marine Park Network plans, and they committed to restoring these damaging plans in 2019.

Labor has no plan for the development of commercial and recreational fishing and they cannot be trusted to manage our oceans.

Only the Coalition understands the importance of the agriculture and fisheries sector and their importance to regional Australia, regional communities and our economy.

Backing these sectors means more jobs in regional Australia and strong regional economies.

In uncertain times, Australian farmers and fishers can’t risk Labor.

Our Plan

Only the Coalition Government has a plan for agriculture and fishing industries – a plan that will help our primary industries achieve their goal of reaching $100 billion output by 2030. Our plan is focused on seven key elements:

1. Stronger trade and exports.
2. Protection against pests and disease.
3. Better productivity and a better environment.
4. Stronger manufacturing and supply chains.
5. Stronger and more resilient infrastructure.
6. Stronger innovation and research.
7. Helping our farmers secure their future.

1. Stronger trade and exports

The Coalition has invested heavily to strengthen our agricultural trade and exports.

With around 70 per cent of Australia’s agricultural produce exported, expanding and diversifying markets is essential to helping the industry reach its 2030 target of $100 billion farm gate output.

Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports are forecast to increase to $68 billion in 2021-22, up from $55.1 billion in 2018-19. And our fisheries sector is forecast to reach $3.55 billion in value in 2021-22 with aquaculture reaching its National Aquaculture Strategy target five years ahead of schedule.

Initiatives that lower the cost of doing business are integral to remaining competitive. That’s why we are ensuring our policy settings are right for business, including making it easier to navigate export systems to get products overseas. The Coalition Government is committed to delivering the $328 million 2020-21 Budget commitment to streamline trade processes and get product to market quicker and easier.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• invest $127.4 million through the Digital Services to Take Farmers to Market initiative to further streamline export processes.
• deliver the $11.7 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget to expand the Trade Information System, providing exporters with a single source of online information.
• deliver the $7.7 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget for the “Tell Us Once” trade system – a digital model for doing trade.
• deliver an additional $100 million as part of our Regional Accelerator Program for the Export Market Development Grants program to help our rural small and medium-sized exporters promote our goods in new markets.
• delivering increased market opportunities for our food and fibre exporters through the entry into force of free trade deals with the United Kingdom and India.
• continuing to pursue new opportunities through free trade agreements including with the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and the European Free Trade Association.
• implement a Domestic Standard for Organics to develop the industry and support exports, in consultation with the industry.
• improve the transparency and efficiency of the marketing of Australian seafood by:
  • working with the sector to develop a voluntary seafood labelling system.
  • exploring improvements to the accessibility and certification of seafood products.

2. Protection against pests and disease

Over the last year alone, the Coalition Government has invested a record $590 million on stopping exotic pests and diseases.

Our actions are delivering Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 – our strategic roadmap to defend Australia’s environment, economy and way of life from these threats.

Australia is free from many of the world’s most damaging pests and weeds, and our farmers trade on this hard-earned “clean and green” reputation.

Maintaining export markets, and opening new ones, demands the most robust biosecurity at the border and on our farms. Strong tracing systems must be ready to activate against any exotic pest or weed incursion.

Protecting Australia from these biosecurity risks remains a priority from threats including lumpy skin disease and African swine fever, along with rapid response to new and emerging diseases like Japanese encephalitis virus.

Australia also has over 250 non-indigenous marine species, many of which can have impacts on Australia’s unique environment, economy or way of life.

We are combating the risks from marine pests, investing in innovations including remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) to detect marine pests in Australia’s waters.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• deliver the $61.6 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget to boost our northern biosecurity frontline – focusing on lumpy skin disease – with more detector dogs and building the capability of Indigenous biosecurity liaison officers.
• deliver the $69 million Japanese Encephalitis Virus National Plan announced in the 2022-23 Budget, which includes $10 million to support states and territories undertake surveillance and control activities against Japanese encephalitis.
• establish a national genebank for livestock and continue to support the genebank for pastures, with $8.2 million over four years from 2022-23, and $1.6 million ongoing from 2026-2027.
• deliver the $20 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget to support producers to improve on-ground biosecurity and traceability.
• provide $34.5 million to the Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (SAFE) Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to help address the impacts of antimicrobial resistance on agribusinesses and exporters.
• extend our national wild dog, feral deer and feral cat and fox coordinator programs to slow and manage the spread of invasive pests, part of our $49.1 million Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program.

3. Better productivity and a better environment

As stewards of more than 50 per cent of Australia’s land, our farmers know what’s best for our environment and always have. Their livelihoods, the rural and regional communities in which they live – and the future of all Australians – depend on it.

The Coalition Government has always worked together with landholders to care for our soils, water and the biodiversity of fauna and flora. We know that the outcome is better productivity, and a better environment.

Our range of initiatives supporting this effort includes the National Landcare Program, a $214.9 million soils package and the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.

Our $91.6 million Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Package is helping farmers improve on-farm biodiversity practices so they can provide confidence to the market. We’re building a trading platform to match farmers and buyers. A biodiversity friendly stamp will benefit domestic and international consumers.

The Coalition Government is working with jurisdictions and the fishing industry to implement the National Fisheries Plan and drive sustainable growth of the fishing, aquaculture and seafood sectors.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• re-introduce the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Market Bill 2022 into Parliament and deliver $13.2 million for implementation.
• deliver the $27.3 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget for agriculture biodiversity stewardship and establish fully automated trading between farmers and buyers of biodiverse outcomes, helping farmers participate in the market – with advice from natural resource management organisations.
• improve the tax treatment of farmers’ income from carbon and biodiversity markets, reducing taxes paid by farmers by up to $100 million over the forward estimates.
• maintain the National Landcare Program.
• deliver $94.5 million of new programs from the $5 billion Future Drought Fund. Announced in the 2022-23 Budget:
  • $40 million for long-term trials to test new drought resilient practices.
  • $14.3 million for demonstration and extension activities that help farmers take up drought resilience practices.
  • $10 million to commercialise new ideas and practices.
  • $1.6 million for scholarships with Nuffield Australia.
  • $21.6 million for resilient communities to scale to 35 regions.
  • $7 million for Climate Services for Agriculture to complete the platform.
• ensure security of access to fishing rights for recreational and wild-catch fishers, including by amending the cancellation provisions in the Fisheries Management Act 1991 to clarify the security of commercial fishing rights.
• implement the National Fisheries Plan and continue to deliver the National Aquaculture Strategy, including working with industry to expand aquaculture into Commonwealth waters.
• implement resource sharing agreements for key recreational species, and assist in the design of principles of resource sharing allocation for stocks managed by jurisdictions through the National Fisheries Plan.

4. Stronger local manufacturing and supply chains

The Coalition knows that a strong agricultural industry needs strong and transparent domestic supply chains.

We will continue to work with the industry to achieve this.

Our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is pivotal, helping our manufacturers to be more competitive and resilient, and to build scale in the international market for a range of products including food and beverages.

Creating sovereign manufacturing capability, and securing our supply chains, will boost national resilience to global disruptions in products such as agricultural fertilisers and chemicals.

The $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program will enhance our international competitiveness by helping regional manufacturers to bring good ideas to commercial success, and address supply chain vulnerabilities.

Diesel fuel underpins the operation of our agriculture and fisheries sectors. The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme ensures these businesses are not disadvantaged by paying excise on the off-road use of diesel in the production of their goods.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• consult with industry on a mandatory repair information sharing scheme for agriculture machinery.
• deliver the $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy, including by prioritising the food and beverages sectors including
  • $113 million for Australian Plant Proteins to develop industrial scale, end-to-end pulse protein ingredient manufacturing capabilities in Australia, partnering with Thomas Foods International and Australian Milling Group in South Australia.
  • $9 million for Kingaroy Plenty Food’s nut flour processing facility in Queensland, creating over 150 construction jobs and almost 100 ongoing permanent jobs.
• deliver the $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program, including $500 million for regional manufacturing and $200 million for the supply chain resilience initiative.
• guarantee no adverse changes to fuel tax credit arrangements.
• commit to no new taxes on Australian workers, small businesses and electricity.

5. Stronger and more resilient infrastructure

The Coalition is supporting Australian farmers, fishers and rural and regional communities with infrastructure when and where it is needed.

Our investment includes regional infrastructure and transport, digital connectivity and water security.

We recognise the importance the recreational fishing sector plays in the lives of Australians. One in five Australians are active recreational fishers and approximately 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast. Recreational fishing delivers over $1.8 billion to the economy every year.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• Promote regional tourism with $20 million of tourism grants for small wineries, distilleries and breweries to accelerate the development of tourism infrastructure.
• deliver the $7.4 billion water infrastructure plan for new and expanded dam projects.
• enhance freight supply chains that better connect agricultural regions to ports, airports and other transport hubs by delivering.
  • an additional $880 million through the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative.
  • an additional $678 million to seal another 1,000 kilometres of road and further upgrades along the Outback Way, taking total investment to $1 billion.
  • $385.4 million through the Northern Australia Roads Program extension for upgrades to major freight corridors across our north.
  • $150.0 million for the Inland Rail Interface Improvement Project
  • deliver $400 million to seal more than 450 kilometres of Queensland roads and contribute to upgrading heavy vehicle corridors critical to the beef industry.
• undertake a review into Australia’s road and rail supply chain resilience.
• deliver $1.3 billion to improve regional telecommunications, including greater mobile coverage on up to 8,000 km of regional roads which will benefit adjacent farms, and targeted solutions to mobile congestion.
  • Our investment also includes a major upgrade to NBN Fixed Wireless, increasing the coverage footprint by up to 50 per cent and increasing speeds, and increased data limits for Sky Muster satellite services.
• invest an additional $20 million to extend the Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program.

6. Stronger innovation and research

The Coalition is helping to modernise our world-leading agricultural industry.

We’re driving collaboration and commercialisation, and helping farmers adopt new tools and technology to boost productivity and sustainability.

We’ve invested in development, extension, adoption and commercialisation initiatives, including through the Future Drought Fund and the Regional Accelerator Program. Our Government has established eight regional Innovation Hubs that support farmers and fishers adopt technologies. A digital platform growAG highlights research projects and commercialisation opportunities.

This is on top of over $300 million in matching payments for research and development via the Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).

We will continue to support the growth of our $2 billion aquaculture sector, including through delivery of the trial of aquaculture in Commonwealth waters. The trial is just one research being funded through our $70 million investment in the Blue Economy CRC.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• implement the Digital Foundations for Agriculture Strategy, investing $30 million to establish a new National Centre for Digital Agriculture in regional Australia, and put digital officers in the eight regional Innovation Hubs to boost digital technology uptake.
• deliver $23.4 million to extend the patent box regime to agriculture, reducing tax on profits from locally-developed patents on agricultural chemicals, veterinary medicines and plant varieties.

7. Helping our farmers and fishers secure their future

The Coalition knows the success of our agriculture and fishing industries rely on the strength, resilience and wellbeing of their workers.

Our Government has implemented the biggest-ever structural reform of this workforce with the Australian Agriculture Visa.

We are also helping Australians into first time ownership of their own farm.

And we’re ensuring our farmers and fishers and their families are safe.

Australian farmers and fishers are the best in the world. As we emerge from the pandemic, we’re strongly supporting a return to the trade events and agricultural shows that demonstrate their skills and contributions.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• continue to support our PALM scheme with more than 23,000 Pacific and East Timorese workers in the country right now - a record.
• deliver and expand the Australian Agriculture Visa Program building on our bilateral agreement with Vietnam.
• bring young Australians back to farming by piloting an 18-month, $75 million Future Farmer Guarantee Scheme to support farmers into first time ownership. Under the scheme, the Government will guarantee 40 per cent of an eligible new farmer’s commercial loan up to a maximum value of $1 million.
• invest $15.4 million to extend the Agricultural Shows Development Grants Program.
• deliver a $2.8 million third round of the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program for events cancelled in 2021 or 2022 due to COVID-19.
• deliver the $12 million announced in the 2022-23 Budget to sponsor large agricultural trade events including $6 million for Beef Australia, $1 million for Casino Week, $1 million for LambEx, $2 million for Hort Connections and $2 million to showcase Australian AgriTech to the world.
• invest $10 million over four years to build on the National Farm Safety Education Fund program to keep our farmers, fishers and foresters safe.
• invest $1.5 million over two years to extend and expand the ‘Stay Afloat’ trial program to deliver mental health support to fishers across Australia.

Our Record

1. Strengthening trade and exports

To strengthen trade and exports we

• invested $1 billion in the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to get products overseas when COVID hit and $85.9 million through our Agri-Business Expansion Initiative to diversify markets.

• finalised 11 export agreements since 2013 and lifted the share of trade covered by agreements from 27 per cent under Labor in 2013 to around 78 per cent, with the entry into force of the UK and India export deals.

• held a national summit and are working towards a national approach to traceability standards with $68.4 million investment.
• invested $15 million to advance our interests on the international stage, including with the appointment of a Special Representative for Australian Agriculture.
• improved access to agricultural and veterinary chemicals by farmers through 208 grants and an investment of $25.7 million to 2025.
• invested $4 million to support Australia’s first national marketing campaign to promote Australian seafood.
• invested $2.2 million in the development and delivery of an Export Market Strategic Plan for the seafood industry.

2. Protecting Australia with stronger biosecurity

To protect Australia from pests and weeds we

• are using technology to detect ‘risk material’ such as 3D x-ray machines, the world’s first algorithm resulting in double the airport detections and triple those in the mail.
• invested in new diagnostic technologies such as eDNA for khapra beetle, AI app for brown marmorated stink bug and the Multi-Hazard Detector machine – which can detect vapour and gas particles in the air.
• are boosting innovation with $5.5 million per year and building our capability through a new Biosecurity Training Centre.
• responded to increasing suspicious air and sea movements through stronger pre-border biosecurity screening, offshore commercial treatments, reporting on international aircraft and non-commercial maritime vessels, increased penalties and cancellation of visas.
• are preparing for current and emerging biosecurity threats by investing $125.2 million to protect Australia from African swine fever, $14.5 million to combat the increased threat of khapra beetle, $30 million to manage fruit fly and $350 million to tackle established pests and weeds.

3. Caring for our land and our oceans

To care for our land and oceans we:

• are delivering the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Package with more than $11 million in offers under the Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot and more than $12 million in offers under the Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot.
• invested $4 million to the National Farmers’ Federation to develop the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework – helping agriculture to communicate its sustainability.
• are investing over $2.2 billion in carbon farming projects through the Emissions Reduction Fund.
• put in place a rule that native forest regeneration projects (covering more than 15 hectares and 30 per cent of the property) will be assessed by the Minister for Agriculture, who will have a right to veto, to prevent potential adverse impacts on agricultural production and regional communities.
• are investing $1.1 billion to the National Landcare Program, with 56 Regional Landcare Facilitators and around 500 Smart Farm grants.
• are delivering the $5 billion Future Drought Fund including 106 projects focused on land management practices and $32 million for Climate Services for Agriculture and Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tools to assist manage climate variability.
• are delivering $214.9 million under a National Soil Strategy which includes subsidised soil testing of up to $10,000 for farmers, improved national soil data infrastructure, research, regional soil co-ordinators and 35 local soil extension officers, over 200 soil extension activities, a national soil science body, and training and accreditation to enhance soil education and expertise.
• established an $8 million Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program with 28 projects being delivered across the country.
• delivered a $100 million Ocean Leadership Package to enhance our world-leading management of Australia’s oceans and waterways.
• cleaned up our oceans and waters by removing ghost nets and other marine debris from the waters of Northern Australia with a $14.8 million investment.
• extended the successful Tuna Champions program to promote responsible, science-based, fishing practices amongst recreational tuna fishers.

4. Backing fair, strong and resilient supply chains

We have improved supply chain competition and fairness through:

• mandatory Codes of Conduct for dairy, wheat ports, sugar and horticulture.
• instructing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to inquire into the harmful imbalance of bargaining power between farmers and supermarkets for perishable agricultural goods and invested $5.4 million to improve market transparency.
• identifying and mitigating critical supply chain risks through the first rounds of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative with $14.15 million for 12 fertiliser projects and $11.6 million for 9 agricultural chemical projects.
• our Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) investments are also helping agricultural inputs and manufacturing including $255 million to support the Perdaman Urea Project, $84 million for the Beyondie Sulphate of Potash Project, $490 million for the Mardie Salt and Potash Project and $32 million for the Kimberley Cotton Gin and Agricultural Development Project – Kimberley Cotton Company.

5. Building infrastructure

We are building the infrastructure for future development:

• established the National Water Grid to fund dams and pipes. Since 2013, we have commenced 156 water infrastructure projects worth $1.6 billion.
• our Mobile Black Spot Program has generated total government and industry investment of more than $875 million to fund over 1,200 mobile base stations, with over 1,000 of these already built and providing improved coverage to local communities.
• undertook a review of Regional Telecommunications in 2021.
• $100 million for the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme, with over 11,500 rebates to farmers affected by drought and now open to farmers impacted by natural disasters.
• $60.9 million for the Horticulture Netting Program, with 150 farmers covering over 1,000 hectares with protected netting in a trial now rolling out nationally.
• $20 million under our initial Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program with more than120 boating, marine rescue, fishing and camping facilities around the country approved.

6. Fostering innovation and research

We have modernised the agriculture and fisheries innovation system by:

• establishing Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA) to facilitate joint investment and collaboration and work with the private sector to attract new investment. Kick started AIA with $2.8 million to develop investment prospectuses for four priorities – trade, biosecurity, digital agriculture and climate change.
• increasing the accountability and transparency for Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) to levy payers and taxpayers.
• streamlining agricultural levies legislation to make it easier to navigate and to change levy settings, with a $7.2 million investment.
• harnessing innovation through the Future Drought Fund by investing $121 million including $66 million to establish Innovation Hubs to provide practical advice and support to farmers on drought resilience strategies and practices and $20 million to expand their remit beyond drought.
• investing $20 million into new regulatory technologies, monitoring and data capability to reduce regulatory burden, increase productivity and improve environmental outcomes for Australia’s Commonwealth fishers.

7. On the ground support

We have backed our agricultural people and communities by:

• investing $25.2 million for AgAttract (including AgCAREERSTART and AgUP), $3.6 million for Fair Farms, and over $15 million in funding for AgMove to build our workforce.
• support to drought-affected farmers and rural communities to create jobs, build roads, support schools and child care services, payments to individuals and charities and concessional loans.
• building drought resilience with $116.8 million for better risk management and planning for farmers and regions and $19.2 million to build community capacity.
• restarting the PALM scheme through the pandemic with more than 19,400 arriving in Australia since September 2020.

The Risk of Labor

Labor has a terrible record of supporting our farmers.

Labor leader Albanese didn’t mention agriculture or the fishing sector once in his 2021 or 2022 Budget in Reply speeches.

Labor’s would-be Agriculture Minister Julie Collins claims to have met with farmers across the country. Her records show another story: the only regions she has visited are Launceston and Rockhampton.

Labor and the Greens cannot be trusted on fisheries – they just want to lock up our oceans and throw away the key.

Labor have stated they will phase out the live sheep export industry - without regard to the livelihoods of our farmers, their regions or the food security of our trading partners.

Labor’s team of union officials and political operatives just don’t get our primary industries.

They have a track record of not supporting free trade agreements.

They have no plan to help farmers and fishers increase their exports.

They have no plan to deal with serious biosecurity threats.

Labor’s environmental plan is higher taxes and regulation.

They opposed the Future Drought Fund legislation, turning their backs on farmers and local communities in their time of need.

Labor will not deliver a genuine Agriculture Visa that secures the future of our primary industries.

Under Labor, farms won’t be able to recruit the workers needed to secure the future.

In uncertain times, Australian farmers and fishers can’t risk Labor.

Cost

As part of our Plan for Australian Agricultural and Fisheries, the Coalition will invest an additional $1.5 million to extend and expand the ‘Stay Afloat’ program to deliver mental health support to fishers across Australia.

The Coalition’s Plan for Australian Agriculture and Fisheries also includes funding for previously announced election commitments.

Funding for all other policies in the Coalition’s Plan for Australian Agriculture and Fisheries is already provided for within the budget estimates.