NSW Farmers’ Conservation and Resource Management Committee chair Bronwyn Petrie said the federal government’s water buybacks were just one of many unworkable policies that were not only constricting food and fibre production but failing to deliver for the environment.
“There’s no doubt we need action to end our cost-of-living crisis, but when it comes to climate and caring for our landscape, we’re hearing nothing but crickets this federal election,” Mrs Petrie said.
“The Federal Government is buying up the water that we need to grow food and fibre, and not only is our basin not benefiting, but our farmers and their communities are being stripped of their lifeblood.
“There’s so much green tape that’s simply creating a lose-lose situation where the landscape hurts, and farmers do too – and that must change, before it’s too late to do anything at all.”
Emissions targets were another looming environmental reform that Mrs Petrie urged federal politicians of all sides to engage with agriculture around to ensure food security was not put at risk.
“We need realistic, viable emissions reduction strategies, not aspirational ones that expect farmers to use electric tractors that don’t exist and report on emissions we can’t track,” Mrs Petrie said.
“Sustainability does not need to come at the cost of productivity in the agricultural sector.
"Not only did farmers meet the Kyoto targets for the whole of Australia, but they have significantly reduced emissions within the agricultural industry and continue to implement further improvements while protecting our natural environment and ecosystems.”
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