Fiona Simson: Agriculture key to Australia’s economic recovery
Reboot manufacturing, invest in the regions, and encourage more tree-changers – the National Farmers’ Federation outlines its plan to get Australia moving post-coronavirus.
GROWING regional populations, rebooting manufacturing and reforming industrial relations are the keys to helping agriculture lead the nation out of the coronavirus pandemic, National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson says.
Ms Simson has called for a renewed commitment to regional Australia from the Federal Government, arguing agriculture’s aim to reach $100 billion in value by 2030 is “at the heart of Australia’s recovery” from the health crisis that is crippling the economy”.
“The goal for 2030 remains but we can’t wait that long,” Ms Simson said in a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday.
Ms Simson called on the Government to capitalise on the growth of working from home by “regionalising” Australia and encouraging more people to make the switch from city to country.
“The wonders of technologies like Zoom, a reliable internet connection and a good set of headphones has demonstrated business really can be done from almost anywhere,” she said.
Ms Simson challenged the Government to commit to delivering 20 “regional deals” by 2030. Regional deals are plans co-signed by all three levels of government, aimed at developing regional areas in ways that best suit their strengths.
Ms Simson supported the program but its delivery had been “disappointing” so far. To date, just two deals have been signed for Barkly in the Northern Territory and Hinkler in Queensland, while a third for Albury-Wodonga is under development.
Ms Simson said Victoria’s Mallee, NSW’s Riverina and South Australia’s Limestone Coast could benefit from such deals.
She said investment was also needed to reboot regional manufacturing, to update decommissioned factories and make them more energy efficient and productive, to reduce reliance on overseas products and create more jobs.
“Business needs incentives and support to combat unfair competition from overseas formulators and remain in Australia long-term,” she said.
Simplifying the industrial relations system would also be essential, with wages currently making up more than 60 per cent of total production costs for farming, Ms Simson said.
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