With only a month until the federal election, peak horticulture body Growcom today called for the major parties to outline their agricultural policies. Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said it was pleasing to see that in recent weeks both major parties had “made the right noises” in accepting the need for a ‘sustainable Australia’ rather than just a ‘big Australia’, whichever side of the population debate they are on. “The Minister for Agriculture and for... ...Read more »

Recommendations in a draft review of bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), released today by the Productivity Commission (PC), would lower the threshold for Australian trade negotiations and carve out our precious farm exports, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned. The draft states: “In determining its approach to particular bilateral and regional trade agreements, Australia should adopt a more flexible approach to the comprehensiveness of agreements, including... ...Read more »

LAUNCHING its 2010 Federal Election Policy Platform today, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) slammed both sides of politics for perpetuating old mistakes and failing to seize initiatives to tackle emerging national issues – laying down the challenges and opportunities ahead. The NFF’s manifesto highlights policy failures and new opportunities that the next federal government must grapple with, encapsulated in four policy pillars: Population, Economy, Environment and Property. “The... ...Read more »

The South Australian Liberal Opposition is the only party that has not made a clear and unequivocal election promise to extend the present ban on genetically manipulated (GM) crops for the term of the next government.”The ALP government, the Greens and Democrats all commit to ban commercial GM crops until 2014 at least” says Gene Ethics Director Bob Phelps. Mr Phelps applauds the parties who have promised to continue the ban on GM crops in South Australia.  He believes that being GM... ...Read more »