Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Capricornia for raising this motion, seconded by the member for Flynn, to highlight the importance of the agricultural sector in Australia. You don't grow up the son of a butcher, the grandson of a butcher, the brother of two butchers and even the nephew of a butcher in the Balonne Shire—famous for sheep, cattle, wheat, cotton, grapes, rock melons—without a keen appreciation for farmers and graziers and the role they play in our national economy and all the prosperity that flows from that. In fact the first dollar I earned was in a shearing shed, and I also cotton chipped my way through high school and teachers college and even after, when I wanted to go backpacking around Europe. My schoolmates were the sons and daughters of cotton growers and beef cattle farmers, and I still value my connections with people working the land there today, like Ross and Paul Brimblecombe, David Moon, Peter Haslem and my very good friend Wayne Long, who's still working hard on Billy Knight's property today. We put out a book together last year.

The critical nature of the agricultural sector is also re-enforced whenever I visit the Brisbane Markets in my electorate of Moreton. They are the third largest of Australia's six central markets. Over 4,500 people work or do business there daily in Rocklea at 170 different businesses: fruit and veggie growers, wholesalers, provedores, food processors, retailers, independent supermarkets and the food service industry. It's a vital part of South-East Queensland's fresh produce supply chain, with an annual trade in excess of 700 million kilograms of produce. That's more than $2 billion worth of fruit and vegetables. There is no chance that China is going to be taking over that market any time soon, as I told the member for Flynn.

The good news is that the outlook for Australia's agricultural sector is very, very positive. The gross value of agricultural production is forecast to rise by $3.7 billion to $86.2 billion in 2024-25, the third-highest result on record. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry cite research from ABARES which indicates further positive signs for both livestock farmers and crop growers. Flynn has actually been a little bit quieter since Labor came to office. Strong global demand is driving increased production values in livestock and livestock products. Beef saleyard prices are forecast to rise by 29 per cent over 2024-25 and lamb saleyard prices by 24 per cent in the same period. This growth is bolstered by increased domestic processing capability and higher export prices. Value-adding by slaughtering here is giving jobs to Australians.

This is mirrored by anticipated crop production values rising despite lower global grain and oilseed prices. In 2024-25 winter crop volumes are expected to rise by 17 per cent thanks to timely rainfall in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. I'm not saying that Labor made it rain, but many are—weather is a national responsibility! With figures like these, it is understandable that Australia consistently ranks as one of the world's most food-secure nations. We grow about 90 per cent of our own food. An ACIL Allen study highlighted the roles of diversified production, mature supply and delivery chains, and a stable society in bolstering domestic food security and maintaining a vibrant and prosperous export market. A nation of 25 million people produces enough food and fibre for 75 million people.

The Albanese Labor government acknowledges the cost-of-living pressures that Australians are facing at the moment. That's often felt most keenly at the checkout when we buy our fruit and veggies. Labor is committed to ensuring that Australians are paying a fair price for groceries but also that farmers are receiving what they deserve for their hard work. In terms of emissions reduction, a fair return for farmers ensures that there is no cultivation wasted. We don't leave fruit rotting on the vine or plough produce back into the fields. Labor is taking a range of measures to ease these pressures in the supermarkets sector. We've instigated a broad competition reform agenda, which includes funding for Choice to conduct quarterly price monitoring reports. That is particularly appreciated by my electorate of Moreton, who want to find out where to shop to save a few dollars. We're progressing legislation to implement the biggest change to our merger reform system in almost 50 years. We're directing an additional $30 million in funding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to deal with dodgy practices in the supermarket sector. There is much more to be done. Get on board, National Party.

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