Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

There are a couple of issues there. I might deal with the SPC Ardmona issue, seeing that it was raised. I am aware of the challenges in that region around Shepparton. But the high Australian dollar is and has been presenting difficulties for our agricultural industry, including the specific ones faced by individual processors such as SPC Ardmona. SPC Ardmona have written to the Prime Minister requesting that the government impose safeguard measures in the form of increased tariffs. That is dealing with the processor and that is a matter that will fall, ultimately, within another portfolio area for determination.

In terms of helping, in particular, farming communities in those regions, the greatest help that can be provided very quickly on the ground is the Farm Finance package—and I would like to hear from those opposite how much effort they are making to encourage the Victorian and New South Wales governments to support the Farm Finance package, because it will allow for diversification and consolidation. It will allow those people who want to choose different opportunities to use up to $650,000 worth of concessional loans to provide the support and assistance they need so much. Certainly, in the travels I have undertaken in those areas, people say that concessional loans of that nature will allow them to continue to pursue other opportunities in those regions, because they are good, fertile areas and they have opportunity with both land and water. In this instance, they are flying into some pretty tough headwinds. That is certainly acknowledged in those regions. The Liberal Party have two questions to answer— (Time expired)