Dear Editor,
WHAT will it take for our city-based, ideologically-driven politicians to wake up and understand the damage they are inflicting on Australian agriculture?
One would think if a leading Australian agriculture investor wants ‘out’ from the industry, stating “Labor and the Greens are hellbent on destroying Australian agriculture”, our politicians would take notice. But that’s unlikely.
Chris Corrigan has been a major player in the sector for many years. However, referring in particular to water buybacks which are destroying food producing communities for little or no gain, he says: “you’re fighting constantly against people who want to destroy Australia’s agricultural capacity”.
Talking specifically about water buybacks, Corrigan says the policy is a greater threat to Australian agriculture than US President Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs and buybacks are “a bit hard to understand for anyone with a commercial brain”.
He describes the buybacks as “insanity” and “it’s ridiculous; there’s no logic to it”.
Yet our Federal Government, supported by the Greens and Teals, barges ahead with water buybacks despite all the advice that they are the laziest and worst form of water recovery due to the taxpayer cost and the destruction of farms and rural communities.
During this election campaign, I urge everyone concerned about cost of living and the price of food at your supermarket to think about the future ramifications of water buybacks.
This, and other anti-agriculture policies, are impacting the ability of our farmers to grow clean, green Aussie food. If we continue with this irrational, ideological approach the price of your food will continue to spiral, and despite what some politicians try and tell you, there will be little or no environmental benefit.
Yours faithfully
Shelley Scoullar
Chair – Speak Up Campaign
