Budget 2021: Agriculture gains for biosecurity, workforce plans

Biosecurity is the centrepiece in a relatively modest agriculture budget for 2021-22 that minister David Littleproud says will help the sector toward its ambitious 2030 target.

Biodiversity and soil management have received a boost in this year’s federal agriculture budget.

Biosecurity funding, plans to increase agriculture’s workforce, and more cash for farmers to look after the land are among the standout measures for the ag sector in this year’s federal budget.

The relatively modest $850 million spend in agriculture, revealed in last night’s budget, is geared toward helping farmers reach the ambitious target of $100 billion value by 2030, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.

“Investment being made in priority areas, particularly biosecurity, will give our farmers, fishers and foresters the confidence to invest and take advantage of opportunities going forward,” he said.

“Our focus continues to be on giving them the tools and resources to take advantage of opportunities and achieve their goals.”

Biosecurity remained the centrepiece of the ag portfolio, with another $30 million spend on top of the $371 million package announced last week. That includes funding for frontline resources and modernising the system to better target risks from overseas.

In response to the ongoing workforce shortages in the sector, there will be $25.2 million to create programs attracting Australians to agriculture, with a focus on school leavers and young people; while $4.6 million will go toward tools to help employers manage and build their workforces.

The Government’s new biodiversity stewardship program – which rewards farmers for increasing biodiversity on their properties, and is currently in the pilot phase – has also received a leg up, with another $32.1 million to expand the scheme.

That cash will go toward running more on-ground trials, and to deliver the planned Biodiversity Certification Scheme, which will give farmers a ‘tick of approval’ if they can demonstrate best practice land management.

Meanwhile, $129.8 million has been earmarked to implement the new National Soils Strategy, which is due to be finalised by the end of this month.

On the trade front, $15 million will go toward increasing trade and market access, while $5.4 million in funding for projects aimed at increasing transparency within the supermarket supply chain, in response to the ACCC’s perishable goods inquiry.

Much of the key items for regional Australia more broadly were announced prior to budget night, including another $250 million for the Building Better Regions Fund, which is targeted specifically for infrastructure in regional and rural communities.

Monday’s infrastructure announcement also saw announcements for Victoria, including funds to build a new intermodal rail hub in Melbourne, benefiting the inland rail project, and upgrades for dairy supply chain roads, and key routes between Melbourne and Mildura.

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