The Nationals launch petition to scrap Labor’s fresh food tax on industry’s day of action

The Nationals are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian farmers to fight Labor’s
fresh food tax, which will hurt families and farmers amid a cost-of-living crisis.
A new petition, Stop the Fresh Food Tax, https://www.stopthefreshfoodtax.com/#action, is being launched by The Nationals today, alongside industry’s ‘day of action’ to scrap the tax.
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is urging all Australian farmers and families to get
behind the campaign and sign the petition to stop Labor’s new fresh food tax.
“The Nationals proudly stand with the National Farmers’ Federation today and support our
farmers on their day of action to scrap the tax,” Mr Littleproud said.
“We urge families and farmers to join us in this fight and to sign the petition to stop Labor’s
fresh food tax. This new tax will hurt almost all Australians, because farmers will be forced
to pass on costs, meaning families will feel more pain at the grocery checkout.
“Labor has continued to ignore our pleas to stop this senseless new tax. We still don’t know
how the tax will be collected or managed. But we do know the tax will go towards
consolidated revenue.
“Sadly, time is now running out to scrap Labor’s fresh food tax, which is due to be
implemented on July 1, forcing farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international
importers. The new tax makes absolutely no sense and it will hurt families and farmers who
are already under pressure. In what parallel universe would a government charge its own
farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?”
A Senate inquiry into the levy is expected to hand down its report on Friday, ahead of an
upcoming crucial Senate vote, with 84 agricultural commodities set to be taxed to raise
$150 million. Mr Littleproud has launched the petition while at Beef2024 and said Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt have shown contempt by
appearing at Beef2024, despite preparing to launch a new fresh food tax on families and
farmers and failing to settle a live export cattle case from 2011.