Coalition agriculture policy: the good, the bad and the ugly
Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Thursday 5th August 2010, 3:08pm
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in Agriculture Climate change and agriculture
The Coalition’s agriculture policy, announced today, is a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, the Australian Greens today.
The policy’s strengths include a focus on research and development and increased biosecurity, but it is undermined by an attack on environmental policies and a declaration from the shadow minister, John Cobb, that he is a climate sceptic.
“The Coalition’s anti-environmental prejudices are slowly but surely undermining their historical claim to represent rural and regional Australia,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
“The Greens have taken a very strong stance on biosecurity and quarantine and we agree with the Coalition that this area, left to flounder under Labor, needs focus and funding.
“We also strongly support a return to properly funded research and development in the agricultural arena.
“But you cannot be a serious spokesperson for farmers and rural Australia if you are hiding your head in sand over the very real threat of climate change.
“Sustainability and ethical production will be a critical feature of agriculture and must be central to research and development priorities.
“It is selling Australian farmers short and undermining their global competitiveness to turn your back on good environmental stewardship.
“Many existing sleeper weeds will become invasive as the climate changes. The habitat range for many pests and diseases will spread as temperatures and humidity rise. Do we even need to mention the impact of drought and changed rainfall patterns?
“The Liberal and National parties will render themselves irrelevant to the future of regional Australia if they keep on refusing to grapple with climate change and peak oil.”
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