TFGA analysis of election rural policies – mixed bag TFGA Media Release Tasmania’s peak farming body, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), canvassed political parties and candidates on their rural policies at Saturday’s election and has had a mixed, sometimes disappointing, response. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston released the analysis today. It found encouraging support for farmers’ priorities from the Liberals, Palmer United Party and the Nationals, but a belated and deficient response from Labor. The Greens had not provided their policy statement before we went to print. “As has been their practice, most of the parties either did not reply or left it to the last minute to do so,” Mr Johnston said. “This reluctance by parties to produce their agricultural manifesto when the campaign is all but over has made our analysis that much more difficult. “It happens every time and it is really annoying. It deprives you and me, the electors, of having deep and meaningful debate about the pros and cons of each policy. “Because there had been so little response from the parties, last weekend we also contacted most candidates individually. We then gave each party and individual a star rating. The TFGA’s summary of the party policies: The Liberals replied early and specifically addressed many of the issues the TFGA raised. Of particular interest were their commitment to establish a specific unit within government to drive delivery on agriculture policies and the fact that policy commitments were clearly spelt out and costed. Score: 4 stars The most surprising document was from the PUPs. It was clear, concise, to the point and well written. They were supportive of the issues raised in our policy platform, and provided details of a range of other interesting and, in some cases, quite specific policy initiatives. Score: 3.5 stars The Tasmanian Nationals embraced all the TFGA’s policy priorities. They went further, suggesting, among other things, that local council rates be pegged and that federal levies be placed on imports that are not subject to the same environmental practices as those demanded in Australia. Score: 3 stars The Labor policy was disappointing. It pledged to continue its commendable commitment to irrigation and to the expansion of the dairy industry (without being specific). However, for all their talk about the importance of agriculture, it did not address any of the issues outlined in our policy platform and focused more on issues of regional communities than it on agriculture policy. Their legacy of support for irrigation schemes is a strong one – but there is little evidence of any vision for the future. Score: 2 stars The Socialist Alliance manifesto was its national policy. They are committed to phasing out corporate agribusiness farming in the Murray Darling basin and a policy to reverse private ownership of water rights, not something we could agree with. However, at least they replied. Score: 1 star The Greens party did not respond within our timelines; and only two of their candidates responded to our individual requests for information. Score: 0 “We don’t tell people how to vote. However, we do try to ascertain the facts about the parties’ policies, lay them out in a readable, comprehensible form and let people draw their own conclusions,” Mr Johnston said. “We regard that as right and proper and in the best interests of our members. Hopefully, that ‘best interest’ consideration also applies to the state as a whole. We know that, if it’s good for farmers, it’s good for Tasmanians.” All details are available on our website: tfga.au Contact Wayne Johnston 0417 316 208 Jan Davis 0409 004 228
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 05:04:07 +0000
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