Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said agriculture industries all over Australia will be spared from paying Labor’s fresh food tax, or planned biosecurity protection levy, from today.
Mr Littleproud said he was proud The Nationals, farmers and industry successfully helped scrap the tax, after months of campaigning, which was due to be implemented from July 1, 2024.
“Labor’s fresh food tax would have hurt families at the checkout as well as 84 agricultural commodities, which faced taxes to raise $150 million over three years,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The biosecurity protection levy will not get the support it needs in the Senate, ensuring Labor’s senseless and terrible tax idea doesn’t come to fruition.
“The Nationals will always fight for common sense and fight for our regional, rural and remote farming communities. Labor’s terrible tax plan was another attack on our farming industry.”
However, Mr Littleproud added he remained concerned Labor had created a sustainable biosecurity funding advisory panel earlier this year, to look at ways farmers could pay more for biosecurity.
“A recent meeting of the panel indicated there was no support for an alternative producer funded contribution. Labor must now come clean and declare it will scrap the levy and scrap the tax from reaching the Senate and Australian farmers.
“Labor must also declare that it will leave the current industry-imposed primary industries levies system alone that invests in research and development, marketing and biosecurity.
“The primary industries levies system is critical to the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of agriculture, and farmers need to know this system will not be used by the Albanese Labor Government to implement a tax.”
Victorian farmer Ben Duxson, who has 8500 merino sheep as well as canola, barley and wheat on his 5500-acre farm in Kanya, Wimmera, said he was relieved Labor’s tax had been scrapped but remained sceptical about farmers getting a reprieve.
“Labor hates farming and they seem to want to keep making our lives harder,” Mr Duxson said.
“The sooner Labor goes, the better it will be for Australian agriculture, starting with lower taxes for farmers, which, in turn, ensures we can keep providing fresh and affordable produce for Australian families.”
