July 2, 2013
The National Farmers Federation has welcomed the appointment of new federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Joel Fitzgibbon.
NFF CEO Matt Linnegar said it was positive to see an MP with a regional background being promoted to the portfolio.
“Mr Fitzgibbon was born in Bellingen and his electorate is Hunter, including towns such as Aberdeen, Cessnock, Murrurundi, Muswellbrook, Scone and Singleton,” Mr Linnegar said.
“While this region is perhaps best known for its horse studs and mining developments, it is also an agricultural region, particularly dairy, horticulture, cereal crops, wool, beef, lambs and pigs.
” I believe farmers across the country will be pleased to see that their new Agriculture Minister has this rural reach, as well as some 17 years experience as an MP.
“We will be requesting a meeting with Minister Fitzgibbon at his earliest convenience so that we can talk through some of the immediate priorities facing Australia’s farming sector.
“These include the implementation of the Farm Finance package, which is still awaiting State and Territory approval – and, in conjunction with the new Trade Minister, the finalisation of the China, Japan and Korea free trade agreements.
“As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in his press conference on Friday, the China FTA is currently moving at the pace of a ‘lame camel’.
“We look forward to working closely with Minister Fitzgibbon – and indeed all Federal Parliamentarians – on the NFF’s election priority of reprioritising agriculture in the national agenda.”
The NFF also expressed its thanks to the former Agricultural Minister, Joe Ludwig.
“We had a strong working relationship with Senator Ludwig and his team, and it is important to recognise that he worked very hard to make improvements for farmers, particularly in the areas of research and development funding, the National Food Plan and farm finance,” Mr Linnegar said.
“We understand that many farmers remain angry about the government’s decision to suspend live exports – and rightly so – but it is not fair to lay the blame for this decision solely at the feet of Senator Ludwig, who worked constructively with the agricultural industry to navigate the difficult path forward following the suspension.”
