Labor’s Minister for Agriculture, Senator Joe Ludwig, today proved he is completely out of touch with his portfolio, being incapable of answering questions on the impact of the carbon tax on farming.
Concerns have been raised by the peak farming body, the National Farmers’ Federation, and again today by the Coalition in question time.
Nationals Senator Fiona Nash asked the minister the following:
1. Why the Government did not conduct modelling to determine the average increased electricity costs to farmers from the carbon tax and whether its compensation package would cover these costs? Given that farming is an industry that generates $155 billion-a-year in production, underpinning 12.1 per cent of GDP, why has the Government neglected this fundamental sector of Australia’s economy?
2. Will the Minister confirm whether the Government considered the impact of the carbon tax on farming and food production, specifically with respect to the National Food Plan? If the Government did not, why not? Doesn’t this make a mockery of the National Food Plan, which is aimed at securing Australia’s food supply?
3. Can the minister explain how the Government will guarantee adequate compensation to farming families when an emissions trading scheme takes place in 2015 and the carbon price will fluctuate according to the market?
“These were perfectly reasonable questions to ask following revelations during the recent debate on the carbon tax legislation,” Senator Nash said.
“The minister, despite point of orders requesting him to directly answer the questions, was unable to provide any answers. It showed a complete disregard for Australia’s farming sector which will be hit by yet another cost burden via the carbon tax.
“The Australian Farm Institute research commissioned by the NFF found the carbon price has the potential to significantly impact farm profitability. It shows that under a $23 per tonne carbon tax, farmers will be hit slugged anywhere from $1,000 for an average Australian sheep farm to $10,500 for an average cotton farm.
“Yet the agriculture minister arrogantly ignores this evidence and the government refuses to do its own modelling on the carbon tax impact on agriculture, a significant industry to the national economy.”
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