AUSVEG, chaired by Bulmer Farms’ Bill Bulmer, congratulated new and returning Ministers of the Albanese Government’s ministerial line-up, which features new and returning faces in portfolios critical to the interests of Australian vegetable growers.
The peak industry body for Australia’s $5.7 billion vegetable, potato and onion industry congratulated Julie Collins MP on returning as the Minister for Agriculture and looks forward to her engaging with growers across the country.
AUSVEG also congratulated Senator Anthony Chisholm on his return as Assistant Minister for Agriculture.
AUSVEG also extended warm congratulations to returning Ministers, Senator Don Farrell in the Trade portfolio, Tony Burke MP as Home Affairs Minister, Mark Butler MP as Health Minister, Pat Conroy MP as Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Andrew Leigh MP as Assistant Minister for Competition, and Andrew Giles MP as Skills and Training Minister.
In congratulating the returning government on its election victory, AUSVEG chief executive officer Michael Coote emphasised the need for ongoing, constructive engagement with the vegetable industry to address the pressing and urgent challenges facing vegetable, potato and onion growers across the country.
“Leading into and during the recent election campaign, AUSVEG continued advocating strongly for positive action and solutions to key issues and challenges that are threatening the viability of Australia’s vegetable, potato and onion growers,” Mr Coote said.
“Addressing the industry’s ongoing cost-of-production crisis, difficulties securing viable returns for produce, compliance overload and workforce shortages is bigger than any one
portfolio and requires a whole-of-government approach. “AUSVEG remains committed to building on the constructive relationships developed with Ministers across portfolios during the government’s previous term, and to securing the positive changes needed to support the long-term viability of Australia’s vegetable industry.
“This will include continuing to seek a $125 million, five-year federal investment in a national behaviour change campaign to boost unacceptably low vegetable consumption among Australians, as well as policy adjustments and measures that relieve the ongoing pressure Australian growers are under. “
