Billed as a ‘call to return to common sense’, last week’s National Farmer Rally on the lawns of Parliament House drew more than 2000 farmers and supporters, as well as 40 trucks and farm vehicles in convoy.
What started as the ‘Keep the Sheep’ campaign’s call for overturning the current government’s ban on live sheep exports, turned into a National Farmers Federation (NFF) backed rally attended by producers from across the country.
Keep the Sheep spokesman Ben Sutherland said it was an excellent turn out, but that they were ‘ropeable’ that neither the Prime Minister nor the Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins, came out to address the crowd.
“It’s a busy time of year for farmers, but people feel so strongly about the government ruining our livelihoods, they came out in force today,” Mr Sutherland said.
“People are hurting already as a result of this policy and no government representatives turned up to listen to their concerns – even when we were right on their doorstep.”
Local producer, Trevor Caithness, Forge Creek, attended the rally and estimated about 30 people from East Gippsland were there.
“It was quite encouraging to talk to farmers from everywhere in Australia, all dealing with similar situations,” Mr Caithness said.
“Peter Dutton (leader of the opposition) and David Littlepround (leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture) both spoke to the crowd.
“They encouraged farmers not to be too despondent about issues like banning live sheep trade.
“David Littleproud said if they were elected his first job would be to restore the relationships with our overseas sheep markets and put legislation up to reverse the ban.
“There were a lot of people there who were getting transmission lines over them or different forms of renewables parked beside them.
“The opposition believe power generation will be a balance of renewables, nuclear power and the last of the power stations.”
National Farmers Federation president, David Jochinke, addressed the crowd saying farmers needed to be respected.
He said he and NFF CEO Tony Mahar had met with Anthony Albanese before the rally and made it clear they did not agree with the decision to ban the live export of sheep.
“We also made it very clear that any policy they develop, they need to have their key stakeholder at the table – us – we need to be at the table.
“Our concerns are this: There are alternative voices and they are setting the agenda.
“There are alternative voices that are united against us, and we don’t think they are the ones who should be setting the policy because we are the interface between the environment and the consumers.
“The reality is we farmers stand between prosperity and the starvation of this nation.
“We hold the solutions to most problems in
agriculture, we are some of the best farmers in the world.
“No farmers, no food.
“It’s a simple message, we have to make sure our voices are heard but more so we have to be smart and we have to put our policy first, and the only way that can happen is when we are consulted.
“I thank each and every one of you for showing up because those who show up are those who set the agenda.
“Thank you for setting the agenda, thank you for showing up, thank you for being heard and keep farmers farming.
Australia’s Rural Aid charity also threw its support behind the National Farmer Rally, with its chief executive offer, John Warlters, saying the nation’s farmers were feeling undervalued.
“Eighty per cent of our farmers have reported they believe people don’t value the work and effort it takes to provide food and fibre,” Mr Warlters said.
“These results, outlined in Rural Aid’s recent Pulse of the Paddock report, were echoed by studies from Norco and the National Farmers’ Federation.
“It shows there is a gap between the general public’s understanding of farm life, and the harsh realities of life on the land,” Mr Warlters said.
“Having a well-supported, thriving agriculture
industry is vital to every single Australian,” Mr Warlters said.
“It’s an occupation that is challenging at the best of times, given the uncontrollable nature of weather, markets and factors such as government policy.
“Rural Aid is committed to standing with our mates in the bush when they need it most and supporting farmers who are passionate about making a change,” Mr Warlters said.
