Farmers swap punches for praise after EU turnaround

Josie Angus on her north Queensland cattle station. Picture: Damien Carty

Less than a week ago, Australian food producers declared war on the Albanese government.

Key to the National Farmers Federation’s proclamation was that Labor was “wilfully ignorant of the plight of farmers” and food and fibre production was “not a central priority” for a government more interested in “a niche ideological agenda”.

While grievances about the proposed phase-out of the live sheep export trade, reworking of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, industrial relations and biosecurity funding will remain, the government acted decisively last weekend to show, sometimes at least, it is willing to listen to and act in the interest of farmers.

Walking away from the latest round of European free-trade negotiations sent two clear messages. The message to the Europeans was that their unwillingness to budge on trade quotas for beef, sheep and sugar was a deal-breaker.

To farmers, the message was the government would not throw them under the bus for the sake of diplomacy, critical minerals markets or cheaper luxury cars.

It came after a week of nervousness in the agriculture sector in which lobby groups called for Trade Minister Don Farrell to dump the “dud deal”.

Noting an increased urgency to sign and a change in the minister’s rhetoric on needing to secure a deal for the good of the nation, not just farmers, many believed they would be sold out for the sake of ideology or a photo opportunity.

Given the earlier mentioned gripes against the government, it’s not too hard to empathise.

But Farrell and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt now are receiving an outpouring of public praise from producers after a week of punches.

“We certainly personally appreciate this stance by the Trade Minister and the Agricultural Minister,” grazier and beef exporter Josie Angus said. “It was a very difficult but strong move by the Australian government.”

By publicly showing their thanks a week after declaring war, the farmers have sent a message of their own that they hope will be remembered while the government considers its deadline for the live sheep trade and other antagonistic policies: back us and we’ll back you.