Australia’s farmers are ramping up pressure this election season, calling for urgent fixes to environmental and energy policies they say are hurting the land and threatening livelihoods.
Water buybacks, excessive regulation, rushed emissions targets, and poorly managed renewables are all in the firing line.
Water Woes and ‘Green Tape’
New South Wales Farmers’ Bronwyn Petrie says the current federal water policy is failing everyone, especially farmers.“The federal government is buying up the water that we need to grow food and fibre,” she said.
“Not only is our Basin not benefiting, but our farmers and their communities are being stripped of their lifeblood.”
She called the current approach “a lose-lose” for the environment and farmers.
“There’s so much green tape that’s simply creating a lose-lose situation where the landscape hurts, and farmers do too. That must change before it’s too late.”
She also criticised the silence on climate and land care during the campaign.
“There’s no doubt we need action to end our cost-of-living crisis, but when it comes to climate and caring for our landscape, we’re hearing nothing but crickets this federal election,” she said.
She urged parties to rethink their emissions plans and include farmers in the conversation.
Farmers Want a Say in Energy Rollout
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) also wants a better deal on renewables.VFF President Brett Hosking said farmers support green energy, but not if it ignores their rights.
“Farmers aren’t opposed to progress, but we won’t accept a system where multinational energy companies dictate terms to local landholders,” he said.
Hosking is calling for a firm commitment: no federal funding for energy projects unless developers follow a Land Access Code of Conduct.
The Code is a set of principles that guide how energy companies interact with landowners including requirements for early engagement, clear communication, fair compensation, and respect for farming operations.
“If developers haven’t done the work with farmers and their neighbours, they shouldn’t receive a cent of taxpayer money. No engagement, no funding, it’s that simple,” he said.
The Coalition has vowed to axe Labor’s $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund, arguing it funnels money to poorly managed projects. But if Labor wins, the VFF wants strict new rules to ensure only respectful and transparent developers get access to public money.
Bipartisan Support on Farm Safety
One rare point of consensus has been farm safety, with both major parties committing to a $2.5 million investment in 2024 after a deadly year on farms. Seventy-two people died and 133 were seriously injured.“We thank both sides of politics for stepping up and committing to this investment in saving lives,” said NFF President David Jochinke.
Farmsafe Chair Felicity Richards said the funding would drive practical change.
Animal Welfare and Activism Concerns
Despite that progress, tensions remain, particularly over animal welfare policy.The NFF says it is alarmed by the increasing influence of activist groups, and criticised Labor and the Greens for backing activist ideas without consulting farmers.
“The NFF is extremely concerned with who these parties are choosing to listen to when developing policy,” Jochinke said.
“Farmers’ livelihoods depend on positive animal welfare outcomes—our animals are our number one priority.”
As the people managing Australia’s food supply and rural landscapes, farmers say it is time politicians stopped making decisions about them and started listening to them.
