LETTER TO EDITOR - Labor ignores carbon tax impact on agriculture

Dear Editor,
Australian farmers have had their job in producing our nation’s food made even harder with the carbon tax passing the senate.
They will be among the hardest hit and they have no-one to pass the increased costs on to. Australian Farm Institute research commissioned by the National Farmers’ Federation show farmers across all sectors will face added costs in the tens of thousands of dollars.
During last week’s debate on the legislation I asked government minister, Senator Penny Wong, whether any modelling was done to determine the average increased electricity costs to farmers from the carbon tax.
The minister replied the government didn’t do cost analysis by occupation. Farming is not just an occupation – Australian farms and closely related sectors generate $155 billion-a-year in production, underpinning 12.1 per cent of GDP.
I asked the minister if the carbon tax impacts on farming had been considered or discussed as part of the National Food Plan. The Minister could not provide an answer.
It seems bizarre that, at a time when we should be focusing as a priority on the importance of our future food production and food security, that this government would make the job even harder for our farmers. It makes a mockery of the government’s so called National Food Plan.
The minister was also asked how the government will ensure adequate compensation for high living costs when an emissions trading scheme takes place in 2015. Her best response was that compensation will be assessed each year. It’s hardly reassuring when the carbon price will fluctuate continually according to the market.
This government has clearly made no attempt to understand the carbon tax impact on farming. And the regional Independents who backed this toxic tax have a lot to answer for.

Yours sincerely,
Senator Fiona Nash
The Nationals Senator for NSW