Julie Collins has been welcomed as the new Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry by Australia’s peak sheep and wool bodies. Image – Julie Collins X.
AUSTRALIA’S peak sheep and wool bodies have welcomed new Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins, with hopes for a restart in the farmer-government relationship marred by the loss of confidence in predecessor Murray Watt, who oversaw the passing of legislation banning live sheep exports by sea by 2028.
The RSPCA and the Alliance for Animals also welcomed Ms Collins’ appointment with hopes for continued action on animal welfare issues within agricultural policy.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said Ms Collins appointment “won’t change the Albanese Labor Government’s litany of disastrous decisions that have impacted the agricultural sector in just two years,” while The National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke hoped Ms Collins would be “a champion for sensible policies to support and grow our farm sector.”
On social media, Ms Collins’ performance in a National Press Club debate with Mr Littleproud last year was revisited.
Fresh dialogue and focus needed – Sheep Producers Australia
Sheep Producers Australia welcomed the appointment of Ms Collins with Senator Anthony Chisholm as assistant minister in the Albanese Government ministerial reshuffle, and thanked Murray Watt for his professionalism and engagement. Mr Watt is now the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
SPA chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner said she looked forward to working closely with the two new agriculture portfolio ministers.
“This is an opportunity to start a fresh dialogue and focus on the issues impacting our producers and the key priorities for the Australian sheep industry,” she said.
Ms Skinner said the Australian sheep industry is an integral part of Australian agriculture.
“Australian sheep producers contribute not only to the provision of high-quality and nutritious protein for both domestic and international markets but provide substantial employment opportunities and investments that bolster rural and regional communities.
“Sheep Producers Australia will continue to work closely and collaboratively with our producers and the broader industry supply chain to strengthen agriculture’s relationship with the Government and advocate for good policy that benefits and sustains the industry.”
Wool trade policy on WoolProducers’ agenda
WoolProducers Australia CEO Jo Hall said WPA sent a letter of congratulations to Minister Collins on her appointment and seeking a meeting to help foster more positive relations between the industry and the government.
“In general, we will be raising with the minister the importance of a vibrant wool industry that supports not just those directly involved with growing wool, but those ancillary industries and regional economies that rely on a profitable and sustainable wool industry, including the need for the government policies to support market expansion activities, such as our Wool Trade Policy programme.
“With regard to the live sheep export ban we will continue stating our opposition to this policy, which given that the legislation has been passed will realistically be a futile discussion; however, we believe that as the new minister, Ms Collins needs to personally understand the far-reaching ramifications of this ill-conceived policy and ensure that she does everything in her power to support Australian sheep producers, wool growers and their communities.”
Reverse the wrongs – Littleproud
Mr Litleproud said during the past two years, Labor’s agenda has increased taxes, cut funding, abolished industries, and failed to stand up for farmers, which is driving up the cost of living for Australian families.
“Julie Collins won’t change anything because agriculture is seen as a stepping stone into cabinet for Labor members and Minister Collins will toe the line.
“When Julie Collins was last Shadow Minister for Agriculture, she visited farmers outside Tasmania on two occasions over 18 months and could not detail one Labor policy in the election debate,” he said.
“Julie Collins has no interest in agriculture and has been punished for her poor performance in housing, so now not only farmers will pay but all Australians will pay through higher prices for their food and fibre from a government uninterested in agriculture.
“This Labor Government’s treatment of farmers has caused the industry to take an extraordinary vote of no-confidence in this government, Murray Watt and Anthony Albanese which hasn’t been seen for more than 40 years,” he said.
“Murray Watt and Anthony Albanese’s only lasting accomplishment was to unite ag industries in their disdain for the Albanese Government.
“From being slow and weak to take action on major supermarket gouging, to trying to push through a Fresh Food Tax and abolishing the live sheep export industry, this Labor Government has failed farmers time and again, and I call on the new Agriculture Minister to step up in Cabinet and start reversing the wrongs of the past two years.”
NFF wants a positive farming plan before next election
Mr Jochinke said the NFF needed Minister Collins to work closely and collaboratively with industry to strengthen agriculture’s relationship with the Government.
“We look forward to meeting with her soon.
“What farmers are looking for is a demonstration of this government’s commitment to our $100 billion growth target,” he said.
“We want to see positive plans and investments to grow the economy through food and fibre production.
“I look forward to continuing that conversation with the new Minister and frontbench team,” he said.
“We hope Minister Collins will be a champion for sensible policies to support and grow our farm sector.
“We look forward to also working with Senator Chisholm and having that additional horsepower of an assistant minister in the portfolio.”
He said the NFF looked forward to working with the new-look frontbench on a positive plan for the sector as the next election draws nearer.
Mr Jochinke said Mr Watt’s time will most likely be remembered for its heated conflicts with the sector – from live sheep, to water buybacks, to the biosecurity tax proposal and visa disputes.
“There’s no doubt we’ve seen some policies that have deeply impacted and enraged our sector.
“But we also acknowledge his partnership and willingness to work with the sector on sustainability, establishing the workplace tripartite working group, and delivery of enhanced funding for biosecurity,” he said.
“His commitment to normalising our trade with China and ensuring Australian agriculture didn’t end up with a bad deal in the EU free trade agreement will also be remembered well.
“With Minister Watt now leading the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, we hope his knowledge of producers’ concerns surrounding the recent industrial relations changes means their concerns are addressed.”
Farm animal welfare standards on RSPCA agenda
RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell said like her predecessor, the body would work with Minister Collins to ensure animal welfare is at the forefront of decisions about agricultural policy and would continue to push the Federal Government to show more national leadership on animal welfare.
“We also know Minister Watt started a process of reinvigorating the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, and recently led discussions with the state and territory Ministers on the importance of animal welfare in agriculture.
“We look forward to working with Minister Collins and her team on continuing to champion these efforts which will help achieve long-lasting improvements for Australia’s farm animals,” he said.
“For animals to be protected and community expectations met, national leadership on animal welfare is critical.
“And integral to this is ensuring there is continuous improvement, coordination and consistency across states and territories,” Mr Mussell said.
“There are still many animal welfare issues that remain unaddressed, such as fixing our broken system of national standards and guidelines for farm animal welfare.
“The RSPCA, along with the rest of the animal welfare sector, will continue to work constructively with Minister Collins and her colleagues across the Parliament to make this happen.”
Alliance looking for more progress on animal welfare
Alliance for Animals policy director Dr Jed Goodfellow said under Minister Watt’s leadership, the Albanese Government has taken action on all of its animal welfare election commitments, including:
- passing legislation to commence the phase out live sheep exports by sea
- re-establishing national leadership by renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, and
- building on the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports,
“Minister Watt’s successful tenure in the Agriculture portfolio will leave a lasting legacy for animal welfare in Australia,” he said.
“Our members and their two million-plus supporters thank Minister Watt and the Albanese Government for these achievements to date.
“We look forward to working with Minister Collins on continuing this important progress for animals and the Australian community.”
What did Murray Watt ever do for agriculture?
Oh yes, he put measures in place to ensure Foot and Mouth Disease didn’t enter Australia.
Oh, yes, he was instrumental in supporting Penny Wong to get the Chinese trade embargoes and tariffs removed from barley, beef and wine, that were slapped on us during David Littleproud’s term as Minister for Agriculture.
It’s time to stop complaining and take the $106m on offer to transform the live sheep export trade that has been in decline for more than a decade into a fantastic value-added frozen and chilled lamb export industry, as the rest of the world continues to develops its appetite for red meat protein.
750,000 sheep trucked east, he’s responsible for that. How did he stop foot and mouth disease, given it’s not here, despite it being all over parts of Asia? Maybe previous governments and border protection has something to do with it as well. Trade embargoes were always going to be dropped. The Chinese did not want to lose face in the WTO court cases that they would have royally lost.
Do you advocate kowtowing to the Chinese Communist party?
$106 million, wow. Local sheep processors say it will take at least $500 million to up grade and expand. No money will go to farmers nor to communities. There is no housing to house any more workers anyway. Murray had no plans for that. The $106 million will be wasted by bureaucracy saying ‘no’. The live trade was about to regrow with the Saudi trade that used to be the single biggest market until ESCAS. Unless people complain they will continue to be crapped upon by a government more interested in pronouns and failed referendums.