Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, has said that Prime Minster Anthony Albanese refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from across Queensland to plead with the Federal Government to stop an “anti-farming agenda”.
Mr Willcox said the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated complete contempt towards farmers and rural, regional and remote Australia.
“For the Prime Minister to ignore our farmers, many who have spent days on end driving to Canberra from across Queensland, shows that Labor doesn’t care about our agriculture industry,” Mr Willcox said.
“Our Prime Minister isn’t interested in helping or even listening to those who produce our nation’s food and fibre.
“Agriculture Minister Julie Collins didn’t attend the rally either, which is incredibly disappointing given she has only just been appointed as Agriculture Minister.
“All our farmers want is a fair go and to continue feeding the country.”
Mr Willcox pointed out the National Farmer Rally organisers were calling for sensible changes including scrapping the truckie tax, scrapping new taxes for biosecurity and superannuation, scrapping water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin and protecting the Great Artesian Basin, scrapping unnecessary red tape from emissions reporting, known as Scope 3, and scrapping reckless renewables which will rip up prime agricultural land, protecting the 88-day backpacker visa, as well as overturning the decision to ban live sheep exports by sea.
“These requests are common sense solutions and without changes, Labor will make farming unviable.
“The National Farmer Rally is the biggest in a generation – it has been more than 40 years since Aussie farmers have had to march on Parliament House because a federal government has made them feel so aggrieved.
“The Nationals proudly support those attending the rally. We will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers and will continue to fight for farming and the future of regional, rural and remote Australia.”
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox (right) joined farmers at the National Farmer Rally in Canberra earlier this month. Photo supplied