Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak briefly on the matter of importance moved by Senator Roberts. The Albanese government is committed to improving our agricultural industry, which is one of the best in the world—the economic data shows this in no uncertain terms. Having contracted during the pandemic, agricultural employment is recovering very strongly. As of August this year, 285,000 people were employed in the ag sector. That's a 12 per cent increase in agricultural employment over the last 12 months.

Despite poor seasonal conditions affecting production in the last financial year, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry forecast the gross value of agricultural production to rise by four per cent, to $86 billion, this financial year. This is very important, because back in 2018 the National Farmers Federation laid out its road map to grow Australian agriculture into a $100 billion industry by 2030. Back then, the industry was worth around $59 billion. The sector has added nearly $25 billion in value since 2018, and it's set to continue this strong growth. The numbers simply don't lie. Given these very encouraging figures, I don't understand how we can be accused of sacrificing Australian agriculture on any altar, not least climate change.

To suggest that climate action is intended to hurt Australian agriculture is to misunderstand both climate change and agriculture. Farmers are more dependent on and connected to the environment than people in any other profession are. Across the world, agriculture will be hit first and hardest by climate change. It's why I've been so encouraged over the past few years to see representatives from our fine ag sector, including organisations like the National Farmers Federation, come together on this issue. From putting forward innovative solutions on the world stage in forums like COP to taking the initiative in their local communities, Australian producers don't want climate action stopped; they want their government to help them do the right thing. Taking action on climate change and strengthening our agricultural industry aren't mutually exclusive ambitions. We can and, in fact, need to embrace both.

Modelling also suggests that, due to inaction on climate change, Australian farmers lost, on average, $29,000 per farm from 2001 and 2020. And, as climate change worsens, that bill will only get higher if we delay. That's why the government are taking decisive action. We're spending $28 million over 10 years to help farmers better understand their emissions, using digital technology to ensure it's easy to keep up with climate standards. To help farmers get access to market insights and make good financial decisions, we're investing nearly $40 million to expand the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, ABARES. We're also spending $30 million over the next four years to supercharge reductions in agricultural and land-practice emissions, building on existing outreach programs.

For years I have been very passionate about our ag sector and about reframing our approach. I also believe that agriculture is as critical and crucial to our national security as it is to our economy. Since taking office, federal Labor has focused on growing and securing ag in the face of recent supply change disruptions to the global economy. We must face the reality that, while supply chain disruptions began in earnest during the COVID pandemic, they almost certainly will not end with it.

As climate change continues to exacerbate natural disasters and cause disruptions, as we see constantly throughout the supply chain, a secure ag industry with sufficient capacity to feed Australia and broaden our region may become our most valuable national asset. By working to prevent climate change and to secure our ag industry against these effects, we do the opposite of sacrificing it. We ensure its survival, its prosperity and its potential to provide for our country and for our people for many years to come.