Littleproud Warns Farmers May Exit Industry Amid Rising Energy Costs, Live Export Ban

Nationals Leader David Littleproud addressing the party's Federal Council 2024. Courtesy of David Littleproud

Shadow Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud says Australian farmers could lose confidence and exit the industry under policies that are putting pressure on the industry.

In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Littleproud said “No farmers mean no food.”

“When supply goes down, prices go up. That’s why families are paying more for their food at the checkout,” said Littleproud.

The discontent from parts of the community has run hot with a thousand farmers protesting outside Parliament House on Sept. 10 against the federal government’s live sheep export ban—backed by the Greens—and other issues.

Boosting Gas Supply to Reduce Energy Costs

One of Littleproud’s key arguments is that rising energy costs—particularly those related to gas—are having a direct impact on household bills and the cost of food production.

“The quickest way to reduce energy bills is to increase the supply of gas, which can have an impact on prices within 11 months,” Littleproud stated.

When asked about the Coalition’s stance on renewable energy development in rural areas, Littleproud said his party was not opposed to renewable energy, but was concerned about the “saturation” of wind turbines and solar panels across prime agricultural land.

“Regional Australia faces another 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines, while Environment Minister Chris Bowen has previously stated Labor will need to install 40 wind turbines every month until 2030 and 22,000 solar panels every day—or 60 million—by 2030 to meet its target,” Littleproud said.

He added that this would not only take up agricultural land but also threaten food security by reducing the land available for farming.

Farming groups, like the National Farmer’s Federation, have also raised points of contention with the Labor government including the resumption of water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, increased biosecurity charges, increases to superannuation contributions, and the impact of energy development, particularly renewables.

Addressing Biosecurity and Rising Costs

One of the more immediate concerns for Australian farmers, according to Littleproud, is the potential levy on farm exports.

“A Coalition government will abolish Labor’s fresh food tax, and instead charge importers for the risks they create to inspect their goods at our borders,” Littleproud said.

By shifting the focus to those who create the biosecurity risk, the Coalition believes it can relieve some of the financial pressure on Australian farmers, helping them remain competitive in the global market.

Commonwealth Games Cancellation and Economic Impact

Turning to the cancellation of Victoria’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games, Littleproud did not hold back in his criticism of the Victorian Labor government.

The cancellation, he said, has had significant economic implications, particularly for rural and regional areas that were set to benefit from the associated infrastructure projects.

“Victoria cancelling its bid to host the Commonwealth Games has proved costly, with the Victorian Labor government forced to pay $380 million to the Games Federation so Edinburgh can now run it,” Littleproud said.

He argued that the money could have been better spent on regional infrastructure such as roads, childcare, and health services.

Littleproud emphasised that regional areas were already feeling the impact of the cancellation.

“It’s already evident with the lack of even road infrastructure spending that has been removed,” he said.

He warned that this decision would not only harm Australia’s international sporting reputation but also have long-term consequences.

Addressing the Cost of Living

Littleproud also outlined a series of measures that the Nationals believe are important to deal with cost of living in rural Australia.

He pointed to 10 key changes the party is demanding from Labor, including the reintroduction of the Agriculture Visa, reversing water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin, and creating a container levy to ensure international competitors pay for biosecurity risks rather than farmers.

Among the other measures proposed are reinstating the live sheep export trade and ensuring the 88-day backpacker visa—which is crucial to the agriculture sector—remains in place.

“The Nationals believe these measures will provide immediate relief to rural families facing financial stress, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia’s agricultural industry,” Littleproud said.