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NFF unveils plan to accelerate Aus ag industry
Elizabeth Gracie
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has launched a plan to accelerate the economic recovery of Australia’s agriculture industry in the wake of COVID-19.
The Get Australia Growing Plan involves 35 recommendations by the NFF, including the fast-tracking of 20 new Regional Deals, the reinvigoration of regional manufacturing, the creation of a $1bn Biodiversity Stewardship Fund, digitally connecting regional areas, and helping push more potential workers into careers in Australia’s agriculture industry.
NFF President Fiona Simson says the plan has a substantial potential to provide a rapid boost to a farming sector struggling to get back on its feet after environmental factors such as drought, fires and flood as well as the added pressure of COVID-19.
“The outlined priorities are not new nor are they groundbreaking, but they are achievable and will genuinely stimulate new activity and employment in our sector,” said Simson.
“When farmers do well Australia does well. Regional Australia played a key role in staving off a recession during the Global Financial Crisis, and it can play a leading role again as we recover from COVID-19”.
According to Simson, the shift in thinking from many Australian businesses to how and where they operate has created potential opportunities for the regionalisation of the Australian economy.
“It’s an opportunity we must not squander. For too long regional Australians have been the victims of empty promises and a lack of commitment from governments” said Simson.
“Currently, fragmented sources of public and private investment have no coordinating strategy at the regional level”.
Simson points to the Commonwealth’s Regional Deals program to facilitate coordination between the Federal Government and regional Australia to make it more ambitious and collaborative.
Simson believes that the Get Australia Growing Plan will also position Australia as a global leader in post COVID - 19 economic recovery.
“Australia is the envy of the world in how it is managing the COVID-19 health crisis, and we’re well placed to lead the world in the economic recovery also,” said Simson.
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