National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Media Release, 29 July 2024
The NFF Horticulture Council welcomes Prime Minister Albanese’s appointment of the Hon Julie Collins MP as the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Small Business.
Council Chair Jolyon Burnett said having a minister from a state where primary industries remained a significant contributor to the local economy should ensure a keener ear would be given to the needs of the sector.
“We are glad to have Minister Collins taking on this hugely important portfolio,” Mr Burnett said.
“She obviously has the benefit of having been the shadow minister in Opposition but also an inevitable affinity for horticulture, being a product herself of the Apple Isle.
“Beyond apples, Tasmania is an important producer of many other horticultural crops, including cherries, berries, potatoes, and vegetables.
“Given the close association between the state and primary production it is no surprise Julie is preceded by two other eminent Tasmanian Labor politicians in the portfolio, Lance Barnard and Ken Wriedt, who both served in the Whitlam Government.
“Similarly, we’re glad Minister Collins will at the same time have responsibility for the small business portfolio.
“We have some 12,000 horticultural businesses across the country, the vast majority of which are hardworking family businesses.
“The set of challenges facing the horticulture sector are emblematic of small businesses everywhere, including rapidly increasing costs of production, driven by inflation but also decisions of government, and vulnerability to unbalanced trading relationships.
“We look forward to working closely with Minister Collins to ensure we put in place all the things our industry needs to remain profitable and sustainable well into the future.”
The Council also noted the significance of Minister Watt moving from agriculture into the employment and workplace relations portfolio.
“Depending on the crop, labour costs in horticulture can constitute anywhere between 30 and 60 per cent of the cost of production,” Mr Burnett said.
“We know over the past couple of years Minister Watt has developed a considered appreciation for the labour and workforce settings horticulture needs to not just maintain our national food security but to expand our export markets.
“We congratulate Minister Watt on his appointment to this weighty portfolio and look forward to continuing a dialogue in his new capacity.”
About the Horticulture Council
The Council is the recognised peak body for forming policy and advocating on behalf of the national horticulture industry. Established in 2017, it now comprises 21 national commodity and state-based horticulture bodies.
It is a member of the National Farmers’ Federation, free to establish and advance its own policy positions and responses issues impacting the horticulture industry.
For more information about the Council click here.
