1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Today farmers are rallying in Canberra and they will be 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: there to have the essay on well, quite a number 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: of things going on. There are a few concerns, let's 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,239 Speaker 1: find out what they are. David Jahinki is President of 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: the National Farmers Federation. 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: David Goodmning, Good morning, Matthew. 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: Tell me about the concerns farmers have at this stage. 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: Well, Australian farmers across the board are hugely frustrated by 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 2: the avalanche of bad ideas that we're currently having to 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: battle with. When we talk about policy on the future 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 2: of agriculture, we can see that in almost every state, 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 2: in almost every commodity that quite simply policy is being 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: created without the keys stakeholder farmers being engaged in helping 14 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: drive the agenda. And what we're seeing is perverse outcomes 15 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: floating up to the top that are driven by activist 16 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: groups that don't run the farm, they don't have their 17 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 2: livelihoods at stake, and quite frankly, Austraian farmers have had 18 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: a gutful all right. 19 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: So do you think the federal government's open to listening. 20 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: We've engaged the federal government on all of these issues 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 2: for numerous years and we've actually told them that there's 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: some no go areas or which they have entered into. 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 2: One of those was the live export of sheep. And 24 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: it's not just the fact of the live export of sheep, 25 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: it's the principle that an industry was told to invest, 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 2: an industry was told to change, an industry was told 27 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 2: to clean its backed up, which it did and now 28 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: is still yet being canceled. And for us, then the 29 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: question is what else is on the chopping block? What 30 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: else would a deal be done to remove out of 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: our food production system, out of our ability to run 32 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 2: our farms and manage the landscape. How much more can 33 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 2: we actually take? And the really concerning part is Australian 34 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: agriculture is a progressive industry. The individuals that work there 35 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: within the industry are some of the world's best and 36 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: they actually know their trade better than almost anyone on 37 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: the face of the earth, and they're not being consulted. 38 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: So our frustration is we have an awesome industry, We've 39 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: got one of the best industries globally, and yet farmers 40 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: aren't driving the agenda. 41 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: You're expecting twelve hundred any still over an hour away 42 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: the rally to commence, But any idea you'll get that 43 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: many more maybe. 44 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: Oh, look, conservatively, I reckon we're going to touch on 45 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: the three thousand. To be honestly, the amount of vehicles 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: that we've had running around the place and the amount 47 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: of people that have been contacting me directly, let alone 48 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 2: our offices has been absolutely immense and huge, and it's 49 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: really rewarding to know that people care, that people care 50 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: about their food, that farmers are making the effort to 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 2: travel such large distances because essentially we've got farmers from Queensland, 52 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: Northern Territory, Western Australia and even Tasmania making the long 53 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 2: trip here to Canberra just to be counted, just to 54 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: stand up for the industry and say they want a 55 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: better deal the. 56 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: Live sheep exports. Do you reckon? I know farmers, particularly 57 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: over in the West, are really concerned about the impact 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: on their livelihoods moving forward, and I think the concern 59 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: is legitimate. But do you think and the Australian population 60 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: has moved on beyond that debate now that we don't 61 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,239 Speaker 1: want and I'm certainly somebody who doesn't want to see 62 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: sheep exported overseas alive and suffering a sea journey and 63 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: then an unknown, potentially cruel fade at the end. 64 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: Well, that's a really interesting conversation because ultimately the trade 65 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 2: in the Middle East requires five to seven million sheep 66 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: per year, and by Australia exiting that market, no longer 67 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 2: will we have animal welfare stands at all. So we're 68 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: actually reducing animal welfare stands across the board, and almost 69 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 2: every sheep that goes onto one of those ships actually 70 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: puts weight on from that journey. A healthy animal will 71 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: put weight on. An unhealthy animal or animal that's not 72 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: treated right will not put weight on. So even just 73 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: on the evidence itself, by simply putting a blanket over 74 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: ahead and pretending that trade doesn't exist doesn't actually prove 75 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: animal warfare globally. But when we come back to the 76 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: stage of saying, okay, if we cancel an industry, and 77 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: we saw that once again with the live cattle trade 78 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: thirteen years ago, how are we going to make sure 79 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: that people are compensated correctly? And that's still a court 80 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 2: case that hasn't been resolved after all of this time. 81 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 2: And so for agriculture, for farmers, we want to progress 82 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: and we've shown that we can and have. The question 83 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: is then okay, if we do what is asked of 84 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: us because of an ideal and people going to have 85 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 2: their opinions. But when facts aren't being looked at, perverse 86 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: outcomes will rule the day. And by making deals with parties, 87 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: by trying to achieve votes in certain areas and a 88 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: key stakeholder isn't involved in that decision, we can't see 89 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: confidence growing in our industry all right. 90 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: A couple of other issues. One is the value of 91 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: farm land with transmission lines being cut through and recently 92 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: about six or some months ago down in Victoria near Portland, 93 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: where you drive through Heathmere, for instance, the backblocks it. 94 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden, as we did this, we 95 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: came across on a dirt track an area in a 96 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 1: forest which are just being cleared just two hundred meters 97 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: it would have been across one hundred and fifty at 98 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: the very least meters across this forest for overhead power 99 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: lines transmission lines going down to the big wind farm 100 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: down there at Portland, not far off from Heathmere. And 101 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: you think there's the Victorian government that has stopped logging 102 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: hard wood, will he button the like? And it's very 103 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: happy though to do so, to put in a transmission line, 104 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: and the hypocrisy of that just does my head in. 105 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: So farmers must be absolutely gobsmacked that what is happening 106 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: to their land. 107 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: Similarly, well, there's you've touched on a very raw nerve there, 108 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: because farmers actually have to complose some of the highest 109 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: environmental standards in regulations globally, and we're proud that we 110 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: do have to complo with these regulations. But when a 111 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: farmer wants to remove woody weeds, we have to now 112 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: argue the point, especially in the northern tropics where they 113 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: grow extremely quickly, to just manage their landscape getting caught 114 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: up with perverse environmental laws. That should be very straightforward 115 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: and you should be able to manage your land accordingly. 116 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: Not removing native vegetation is core to that. But when 117 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 2: another industry can do it a lot more easier and 118 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 2: more of what seems a lot more of a whim, 119 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: and we don't have that same ability, that same control 120 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 2: over what is acceptable on the landscape for how we 121 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 2: can manage that landscape is absolutely frustrating. Now, as farmers go, 122 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 2: we understand that there needs to be a diverse range 123 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: of energy and yes, we need to have transmission lines 124 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: go across the countryside, but ultimately farmers are the ones 125 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: hosting them, but they get either no benefit out of 126 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: that piece of infrastructure to the community's growth into the future. Yes, 127 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: when they build this infrastructure, you get some jobs, but 128 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: the reality is there's no policy to interact either population 129 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 2: or industry to those towns, those small regional areas that 130 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: are hosting this infrastructure. It's just being pumped back into 131 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: the cities, which is absolutely great for the community who 132 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 2: live there, but the people who are doing the hard 133 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: yards aren't being rewarded. 134 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: All right, the diesel fuel rebate just to end on 135 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: that one, because that is contentious as well. And here 136 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: in the city you see the number of evs driving 137 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: around not paying any rebate to the roads through fuel. 138 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: You want to end it for diesel as well, for 139 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: farmers presumably only, although I don't know how you'd make 140 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: the distinction ultimately at the pump. But how would that 141 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: work if that was to end, And should the fuel 142 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: rebate go full stop given a percentage of cars. Whatever 143 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: we're up to in EV's now don't pay any well. 144 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: For US agriculture if it had to contribute to road 145 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: service tax, which is what essentially the diesel rebate balances out, 146 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: would be completely unfair because my tractor works in a paddock, 147 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: it doesn't work on a road, So there has to 148 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: be some sort of wrecking mission that. First of all, 149 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: there are no other alternatives to meet run my tractor, 150 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: I need to run it on diesel. There is no 151 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: other alternative. If you then want to apply that levy 152 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: for a service I don't receive. First of all, that's 153 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: a really poor principle to be basing policy on. But 154 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: then secondly, if we're talking about a cost of living crisis, 155 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: if you want to add fuel to that far, if 156 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: you want to make it harder for us to produce 157 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: world class food with high value for our consumers to 158 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 2: first of all, no understand the safety and all of 159 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 2: the regulations that we comply with. If you want to 160 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: make it harder for us to do that, you are 161 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: only going to push up the price of our commodities, 162 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: of our food. So the simple fact of the matter 163 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: is we need to make sure for agriculture's sake, that 164 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: that is locked away, that that is not going to 165 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 2: be a discussion point, that that will not be traded 166 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: away in any upcoming either election or policies, especially when 167 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: we understand that via the polls, via the current view 168 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: of what may be the formulate the next government, every 169 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: vote will count. And we're just trying to make consumers 170 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 2: aware that farming is the interface between the environment and 171 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: prosperity for this nation. We are the ones that help 172 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 2: provide you your food. We just want to fair go. 173 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: We're not asking for more government support because we've almost 174 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 2: have no government support whatsoever compared to the rest of 175 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: the developed world. We just need to be listened to 176 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 2: so that when policy is being created, when he's being developed, 177 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 2: that we are this key stakeholder, that we actually are 178 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: the ones to be listened to and trusted because we 179 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 2: do have the facts. And can I just say to 180 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 2: all the consumers out there, we love you buying Australian, 181 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 2: We love you understanding more of what we do, and 182 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: we're very proud because we are the world leaders in 183 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 2: so many areas. Just please find out the facts, Please 184 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: ask us and we're more than proud, more than happy 185 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 2: to invite you in to show you all right. 186 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: Terrific to hear that, David, You'll be pleased to know 187 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: that here at the Royal Adelaide Show, which was just 188 00:09:58,320 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: done last week. I don't know if you had time 189 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: to to get down to it, but I spent a 190 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: lot of hours, i've got to say, over the entire 191 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: show there in various roles. And there's a thing here 192 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: called the Yellow Brick Road, which is an exposure for kids, 193 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: primarily to buy an empty show bag at the start, 194 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: and you wander around two different stalls around the produce 195 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 1: areas primarily and dairy and cattle pavilions and the like, 196 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: and you fill up your showbag as you go. And 197 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: I lost. I couldn't tell you how many I would 198 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: see every ten minutes of the day. They were everywhere, 199 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 1: these yellow show bags, yellow Brick Road show bags, and 200 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: clearly a lot of people interested in what goes on 201 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: in the produce the farming sector and took advantage of 202 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: the opportunity with their kids to walk around the show. 203 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: For some parents and grandparents might have been trudging around 204 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: by the end of it, but certainly really good to 205 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: see that many people involved in it and getting behind 206 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: a bag, a showbag that really just highlights where food 207 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: and milk and everything else comes from. 208 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 2: Oh, fantastic. That warms my heart that we've got such 209 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: proud astrains looking after and understanding more about how we 210 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: do what we do. It's just fantastic to get closer 211 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 2: to understanding our food system and the fact that when 212 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: you buy an apple, or when you purchase any product, 213 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,679 Speaker 2: there's a whole value chain, a whole certification process that 214 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 2: goes behind that item. Is not just the item itself, 215 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: it's all of the hard work, all of the fact 216 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,719 Speaker 2: that there are checks and balances there to ensure that 217 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 2: we've got high environmental standards, high welfare standards, compliance to 218 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: industrial relations laws and making sure that we've got food 219 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 2: safety standards across the board. That's what you buy when 220 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 2: you buy Australian. We're really proud of what we do. 221 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: We just want to have let the consumers understand that 222 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 2: if you're proud with us, we're going to build a 223 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 2: better nation. 224 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: Indeed, good on your David, thank you for your time today. 225 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: I hope the rally goes well. Thank you and people 226 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: listen all right. David Jahinki, President National Farmers Federation