PETITION LAUNCHED TO SCRAP LABOR’S FRESH FOOD TAX ON INDUSTRY’S DAY OF ACTION

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is calling on members of the public to stand up for farmers and make their voices heard in opposition to Labor’s fresh food tax, part of Labor’s suite of Biosecurity Protection Levies and Charges Bills — something which will punish farmers and exacerbate Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.

 Today The Nationals launched the Stop the Fresh Food Tax petition website, at which the public can sign up to make their voices heard.

 “I’m urging the community to come together to get behind the campaign and sign the petition to stop this reckless attack on Australia’s farmers,” Mr McCormack said.

 “I have spoken about this several times in Parliament to vehemently express my disdain at this wholly unnecessary, ill-thought, ill-conceived legislation.

“We have joined forces with the National Farmers’ Federation to oppose this tax and are urging the Government to come to its senses and stop this disastrous policy.

“As with any tax, costs will be passed on to consumers, which will drive up the cost of groceries during this cost-of-living crisis.

“Further still, the Productivity Commission and Australian National University’s Tax and Transfer Policy Institute have found the suite of Biosecurity Protection Levies and Charges Bills, of which this tax is a part, are inefficient – a different approach should be adopted.

“Labor hasn’t given any indication on how this tax will be collected or managed but, regardless, it intends on pressing ahead with this poor policy in which proceeds from the tax will be taken from the pockets of some 5,235 Riverina and Central West farmers and farm managers into consolidated revenue – with no guarantee any of the taxes raised will be used to benefit farmers.

“Primary producers will be forced to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international importers from 1 July and time is fast running out to scrap Labor’s fresh food tax.

“In effect, Australian farmers would be forced to subsidise the import of agricultural products from their competitors.

“It’s just ludicrous, in what world would a Government force its own farmers to do this?

“Members of the Government should be thanking farmers three times per day, every time they sit down to eat a meal. Instead, they’ve decided to punish them in favour of our global competitors.

“We should be supporting farmers at every opportunity we get, not saddling them with more taxes.”

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 McCormack added 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.