Election 2025: Farming body’s verdict: Coalition gets four policy ticks, Labor one, the Greens none

The nation’s peak farming body has rated the policies of the main political parties. The outcome could swing votes in key rural and regional seats.

National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke.

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The nation’s peak farming group has rated Coalition policies significantly above those of Labor in its pre-election verdict for voters, in a blow for Anthony Albanese in ­regional seats.

A “federal election scorecard” to be published by the National Farmers Federation on Tuesday gives the Coalition big ticks for four policy areas: food security, farming costs, workforce and fair market access.

Labor, by contrast, receives one tick – on food security – and suffers a fail for its ongoing commitment to water buybacks and new climate reporting requirements.

The Greens receive a fail on five of six policy areas, gaining a “partial” grade for just one, thanks to its promises on regional connectivity and childcare.

“Our message to voters is simple: if you want to keep farming strong, this election matters,” said NFF president David Jochinke.

“Food security, farm costs, regional infrastructure and workforce shortages aren’t issues that can sit in the too-hard basket.

“Farmers need a parliament that’s backing them in, not backing away.”

The scorecard notes both Labor and the Coalition are committed to developing a national food security plan, but says the Greens have not matched the pledge.

On farm costs, the Coalition wins a tick for its promise to scrap super tax and increase and make permanent a $30,000 instant asset write-off.

Labor receives a partial pass on farms costs, due to its support for super tax and commitment to only a 12-month extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off.

On partnering with farmers for sustainability, no party receives a pass, with Labor and the Greens failing and the Coalition receiving a partial mark for ending water buybacks and climate reporting.

The Coalition is alone among the three main parties in receiving a tick on workplace issues, because of its commitment to “rebalance” some laws and introduce an agriculture visa.

The Coalition has won NFF praise for its pledge to scrap a ban on live sheep exports.

Mr Jochinke welcomed “positive steps from all sides” and noted that no party had earned a perfect scorecard.

The scorecard judges the parties’ policies but does not direct Australian how to vote.

“Farmers don’t have time for political spin,” Mr Jochinke said.

“We’ve scrutinised the policies, and now it’s up to voters to make their call based on the facts.”

On fair and competitive access to markets, the Coalition won a tick for promising to repeal the live sheep export ban.

All three parties received only a partial pass on regional infrastructure and services, with acknowledgment of Labor’s $1bn childcare centres program, and of the ­Coalition’s $20bn Regional Australia Future Fund.