Labor’s climate change policy could decimate cattle and sheep herds

Labor’s climate change policy could have a dramatic effect on the national cattle and sheep herds if it spilt over into the agriculture sector, it has been claimed.

CUTTING emissions by just 1 per cent would mean slashing the national cattle and sheep herd by 10 per cent — or more eight million head — it has been claimed.

The Federal Government is ramping up its pressure on the Opposition to reveal the details of its climate change plan, and claims it spills outside the electricity sector and into agriculture, transport and heavy industry.

Coalition warns meat prices will soar under Labor’s plan to cut carbon pollution

Farmers around the country are on edge about what Labor’s unexplained 45 per cent carbon pollution reduction target could mean for them.

Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said the sector would be exempt from any carbon pollution mechanism, but Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his climate change spokesman Mark Butler have refused to reveal their plans.

Mr Shorten said he would reveal details soon.

Mr Butler last week directly refused to answer if farmers would be forced to reduce the methane production of their livestock or if farmers would be forced to reduce livestock numbers.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud dismissed Mr Fitzgibbon’s assurances that farmers would not be targeted, arguing Labor’s proposed cuts are too deep.

“Until such time as Labor explains exactly how it will cut emissions by 45 per cent as it claims, it’s fair to think it might cut from Agriculture,’’ Mr Littleproud told The Courier-Mail.

“It cannot possibly achieve a 45 per cent cut from the energy sector alone.

“Labor is being tricky with its language.

“To cut emissions by just 1 per cent would mean slashing the national herd and flock by 10 per cent — more than 2.5 million cattle and six million sheep.

“This could well increase the price of meat for consumers as farmers would need to make more from fewer animals.”

AgForce north Queensland regional president Dominic Burden said agriculture was doing heavy lifting to reduce carbon pollution.

AgForce north Queensland regional president Dominic Burden

“It is unfair to target agriculture, which is responsible for such a small percentage of Australia’s carbon emissions, and which is on the path to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030,” Mr Burden said.

Asked about Labor’s climate change plan, and specifically about agriculture, Mr Butler said: “After nearly six years of government, the Liberals have pushed up power prices for families and small businesses.

“They can’t explain how they plan to cut pollution in any sector, including electricity, even to meet their weak targets.

“Their only plan is to spend billions of dollars on Tony Abbott’s failed policy and subsidise expensive new coal, which will push power prices higher.

“Labor has already announced a detailed energy plan that explains how we will achieve emission reductions in the crucial electricity sector. The rest of our policies will be announced before the election.”