Canberra rally unloads on government policies

THOUSANDS of farmers from across the country gathered in Canberra this week at Parliament House to send a clear message to the Federal Government. 

The rally, organised by the National Farmers Federation, was in response to what the organisation says is a government that is not listening to the farming community. 

The rally was the first one to be endorsed by the country’s peak farming body since 1985 and was attended by 2000 farmers and a convoy of trucks and farm vehicles. 

The NFF said the rally sent a clear message to politicians that farmers do not feel they are being listened to, and their voices are being drowned out by activists with anti-farming agendas.

At the rally, NFF President David Jochinke said farmers look after 55 per cent of the country. 

“We deserve to be respected,” he said. “However, the reason why you are here today, the reason why I am here today, is because I feel like we are getting stiffed.” 

NFF CEO Tony Mahar and Mr Jochinke met with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese during the rally and made it very clear the NFF does not agree with the Federal Government’s decision to ban the live export of sheep. 

“We made it very clear we won’t roll over on this issue, that we support it. 

We understand they have different opinions, but they are not our opinions,” Mr Jochinke said. 

Other issues the NFF raised concerns about include the proposed biosecurity levy, the Murray Darling Basin water buy backs and changes to superannuation. 

“We also made it very clear that any policy they develop, and when I say they, I mean those people in the house behind us, need to have their key stakeholder at the table. 

“And do you know who that is? Us. We need to be at the table,” Mr Jochinke said. 

Mr Jochinke told rally participants the NFF was concerned there are alternative voices who are setting the agenda. 

“There are alternative voices that are united against us, and we don’t think they are the ones who should be setting the policy because we are the interface between the environment and the consumers,” he said. 

“The reality is we stand between prosperity and the starvation of this nation. 

“Bad ideas that are created from activist ideology and aren’t founded by farmers and fact will always be bad. And those activist voices are loud and they are very well resourced, they have deep pockets.” 

Mr Jochinke said this issue will not be going away any time soon. 

“We need to be united and we need to keep pushing our voice first because no one else will,” he said. 

“And the message is simple: we hold the solutions to most problems in agriculture. 

“We are some of the best farmers in the world. Not only do we adopt the best technology we bloody well create it.”