NFF president David Jochinke said it was a proud moment for national farm advocacy.
“We’ve fought hard for this commitment, not only working with our members but with other organisations along the food supply chain who have been concerned by Australia not having a national strategy,” he said.
With both major parties pledging support for the strategy if elected — although the details differ — Mr Jochinke said it was vital the next parliament moved quickly to deliver.
“Farmers are dealing with workforce shortages, soaring input costs, supply chain pressures and rising red tape,” he said.
“On top of that, we’re heavily reliant on imported fuel, fertiliser and chemicals. That makes us vulnerable to global disruptions we can’t control.”
The NFF has long called for a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard Australia’s food system, and is urging all sides of politics — including minor parties and independents — to get behind the plan.
“This is about protecting our farmers and our food supply in an increasingly volatile world. We can’t afford to take food security for granted,” Mr Jochinke said.
The proposed strategy must provide a clear framework to identify and fix vulnerabilities across the supply chain, from geopolitical risks and climate shocks, to biosecurity threats and local bottlenecks, he said.
“It’s also an opportunity to look at the cost of doing business in farming and food.
“What happens along the supply chain affects what Australians pay at the checkout.
“Strengthening our food system helps keep food affordable, and that’s good for every Australian household.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud has committed to “fairness and transparency from the farm gate to your plate” by developing a comprehensive food security plan within six months if the Coalition wins government on May 3.
He accused major supermarkets of “having a red-hot crack” at consumers by not passing on savings when wholesale food prices dropped.
“The evidence is vastly clear — in June/July last year, sheep and beef prices went down by 70 to 80 per cent at the farm gate,” he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday, April 24, where steaks from Gippsland were served for the occasion.
“At the checkout, they went down by eight per cent.”
Mr Littleproud ruled out fixing prices but called for fairness.
He reaffirmed a Coalition government would go ahead with big-stick divestiture powers to break up large supermarkets as a last resort if they were found to engage in anti-competitive behaviour — something Labor has refused to support.
– with AAP.
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