Media Release

The Budget forecasts a small budget surplus in 2022‑23, ahead of most major advanced economies, and lower deficits and debt over each year of the forward estimates compared with the October Budget ... Gross debt as a share of the economy is now expected to peak lower at 36.5  per  cent of GDP in 2025‑26, where it will be $154  billion lower than projected in the Coalition’s March 2022‑23 Budget.

The global avocado trade will continue to grow in the next few years, but the market will be more competitive, forcing operators to be not only more efficient, but also increasingly sustainable, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. In the report Global Avocado Growth Far From Over, Rabobank says world avocado production expanded by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately seven per cent over the past decade.

Developing the  Regional Investment Framework  - outlined in the 2023-24 Budget - puts regions and the people who live in them, at the heart of decision making. The Framework will establish a new regional development forum for Australian Government agencies, with regular engagement to better inform Commonwealth decisions ... The Framework identifies four key priority areas to support regional development – investing in services, people, places and industry.

NSW Farmers’ Association is disappointed the federal government has missed key opportunities in the federal budget to strengthen Australian agriculture and rural communities. President of NSW Farmers Xavier Martin said the federal budget has “fallen short” of expectations, particularly around the significant biosecurity threats Australian farmers face.

Tonight’s ‘cost of living’ budget is a missed opportunity to address food price inflation, according to Australia’s peak farm body. National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, said the budget does nothing to get to the heart of rampant food price inflation – which NFF polling shows is weighing on the minds of 8 in 10 Australians.

The federal budget has delivered a mixed result for rural Australia, with GrainGrowers expressing disappointment and calling for additional work in a number of areas ... While welcoming the steadfast commitment to maintaining Fuel Tax Credits and the extra attention to childcare, GrainGrowers said the government had missed a range of valuable investment opportunities for grain growers.

Rural Bank Insights provides a monthly commentary on production and pricing trends for Australian agriculture, providing producers with a timely overview of current trends and an outlook for the coming months ... Cattle, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep, wool.  

An attractive, coloured brochure has recently been released by the Yellow Creek-Dairy Creek Landcare Group, Victoria ... Cindy McLeish MP, State Member for Eildon, attended the launch of the brochure CARING FOR THE LAND – Sustainable Agriculture, and spoke of its relevance to the beauty of our country which we must endeavour to maintain.

The Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has sought details from the Andrews Labor Government regarding the management and maintenance of levee banks throughout Victoria, including in her electorate of Northern Victoria Region.

A gorgeous new flower has been named in honour of DBCA Midwest Flora Conservation Officer Alanna Chant.  The striking red bloom occurs only in a handful of areas in WA’s Midwest (Mullewa, Morawa, Canna).

Prime Ministers Albanese and Sunak met in London on 5 May 2023 and announced the long-awaited entry into force date of midnight 31 May 2023 for the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA), following the expected completion of UK domestic processes ... The A-UK FTA, which was agreed in principle in June 2021 and signed on 17 December 2021, will see Australian beef and sheepmeat/goat meat access to the UK liberalised over a transition period.

JUTE Theatre Company’s award-winning First Nations residency program, Dare to Dream, hits the road this month, touring the Far North and Cape with, I Gut this Feeling, an engaging new theatre work aimed at empowering young people with knowledge for building safer communities ... I Gut this Feeling is clever, comical, and entertaining and has been created by Drandic to engage and educate audiences both young and old who rarely have opportunities to access or participate in theatrical arts expression of this kind.

Ulladulla local David Doyle returned to study at TAFE NSW after almost 30 years to improve his literacy skills and switch his career from property development to mental health counselling. Last year’s Adult Literacy Inquiry finding almost half of Australians are living with literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy gaps which limit their life choices.

Far North Queensland Regional Parliament will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May ... “Regional sittings of Parliament are an important opportunity for locals – including our school students - to not only see democracy in action first hand, but to also hear all of the key issues for their area debated": Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of Queensland.

The Government will act on Treasury’s key recommendation to achieve a fairer return from offshore LNG projects by introducing a cap on the use of deductions from 1 July 2023. Specifically, the change will limit the proportion of Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) assessable income that can be offset by deductions to 90 per cent.

Senator Matthew Canavan and Member for Flynn Colin Boyce MP, have expressed their disappointment in NAB’s decisions to close the Biggenden branch ... "There are 47 community groups and 48 small businesses that are set to be directly impacted by the Biggenden branch closure. I urge NAB to support the community and keep this branch OPEN": Colin Boyce MP, Member for Flynn.

Bringing a new life into the world is always a special moment, and for Michael Dickson the opportunity to foal down a mare for the first time is a favourite memory. “It all went so well. That life came into the world and I was the only one assisting – I really enjoyed that”: Michael Dickson.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the 5 May 2023 announcement that the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 31 May 2023.  The FTA improves access to an important market for Australian farmers and will allow them to diversify their markets. It will importantly give UK customers the option of sustainable, high quality Australian produce on supermarket shelves to complement their existing home-grown options.

The Australian Government has kicked off a new $1.4 million capacity enhancing project in Indonesia, providing Australian expertise in-country, to assist in the fight to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) ... Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Mark Schipp said the project would be delivered by the FAO in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) operating out of the MOA offices in Jakarta.

Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins has launched the Teach Rural pilot program, which will support up to 200 student teachers - or pre-service teachers (PSTs) - to undertake placements at government schools across rural and regional Victoria in 2023 and 2024 ... Country Education Partnership ... will deliver the Teach Rural pilot program.

Two rural peak bodies in Tasmania are joining forces to identify and help prepare young people for leadership roles in Tasmania's agriculture sector. This initiative is timely, given that Youth Week Tasmania (YWT) is the largest single celebration of young people on the Tasmanian calendar.