January 27, 2015
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh says the Labor Party has refused to commit to keeping a dedicated Department and Minister for Agriculture if elected at the January 31 poll.
He said government services for farmers and farm industries could be “lost in the bowels of a super bureaucracy bereft of leadership and focus” if Labor was elected.
“Labor’s plans for agriculture have ignored any commitment to maintain a dedicated department,” Mr McVeigh said.
“That’s a real worry, and a slap in the face for farmers and tens of thousands of people employed in the sector and related industries.
“Our farmers need a standalone department that is fully focused on their needs, committed to frontline service delivery and helping to boost productivity, as our strong plan does.
“Labor spent years demonising farmers and farm communities with its red and green tape and they’ve learned nothing with their plans to roll back the LNP’s vegetation management reforms and add more red tape with their panel to oversee animal handling.”
