FARMERS across Australia are waiting and wondering.
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As usual, there’s a lot of talk about the Asian century and the potential for Australia to be a food bowl nation but, apart from some successes here and there, there is no evidence as yet of any big-picture thinking from government.
That might change when the federal government releases its delayed White Paper on agriculture in the next few weeks.
Essentially, it will be the industry plan for agriculture, a blueprint for the sector.
Federal agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce has said the paper will be a legacy document. Farmers will hope that what he means by that is government will act on its recommendations and provide some long-awaited support for an industry that still has tremendous potential, but has the lowest level of government funding in the world.
Issues that are important to farmers everywhere include supermarket buying power, mining, labour-market freedom and the ability to operate on a level playing field in the face of cheap exports.
In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews has been vague about the previous government’s mantra that it would aim to double food production over the next 20 years.
Labor plans to introduce its own targets, but it is not surprising that farmers still don’t know what they are.
Agriculture has never been at the forefront of broader industry planning yet it continues to be spoken about in glowing terms by opportunistic politicians seeking positive media sound bites.
If ever there was an industry sector that can see through the bullshit, it’s farming.
For this reason alone, Mr Joyce will understand that there is a great deal resting his so-called legacy document.
Never has there been a more critical time for Australian farming as it stands on the cusp of a potentially huge increase in productivity to satisfy the middle-classes of Asia.
Many farmers will be expecting the usual platitudes, promises and vision without substance from the White Paper.
Let’s hope it’s different this time.