Election 2022: David Littleproud slams Julie Collins’ record on agriculture

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has questioned whether his Labor counterpart, Julie Collins, is up to the job.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has questioned whether his Labor counterpart is up for the job if there is a change of government following next month’s election.

Mr Littleproud said Tasmanian-based Shadow Agriculture Minister Julie Collins’ comment this week that she had spoken to farmers across the country was at odds with her official published travel records.

They revealed she had stayed outside of a capital city only twice in her 435 days in the role.

“The records show that the only places Ms Collins has visited outside of a capital city are Launceston and Rockhampton,” he said.

“One of the visits to Rockhampton was a same day, fly in fly out.

“Where are those farmers that the shadow minister is meeting and how are they talking to her?”

Labor has been criticised for not detailing an agriculture-specific policy with the exception of a five-point plan to return an extra 450GL to the Murray River and resurrect the National Water Commission in an announcement made by leader Anthony Albanese on Friday.

Shadow Agriculture Minister Julie Collins. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms Collins said the Minister had been selective in the travel records he cited and they didn’t include recent trips to the mainland after Tasmania’s harsh border restrictions were lifted.

“I’ll leave the personal insults to David Littleproud,” she said.

“Perhaps if he spent more time focusing on policy solutions for Australian farmers instead of combing travel records there wouldn’t be so many issues piling up on his desk.”

Mr Littleproud said his Labor adversary had also been noticeably quiet about agriculture in other forums.

“Ms Collins has issued 36 media releases mentioning agriculture, one every 12 days, and that’s if we’re generous,” he said.

“On Facebook and Twitter, less than 17 per cent of Ms Collins’ posts have been agriculture related.

“Agriculture is an over $80 billion industry, it feeds and clothes our nation, creates wealth through exports and provides the world with a reliable source of food and fibre.

“If Ms Collins is the best the Labor Party have got to look after our national agriculture industry in government, then we are up the creek without a paddle.”