Farmers across Australia have been left scratching their heads by the Government’s attempt to legislate a new tax on farmers, despite a tidal wave of expert criticism.
The Federal Government has tabled new laws to establish the ‘Biosecurity Protection Levy’ – intended to raise $50 million from farmers to bankroll activities that assist importers, airlines and other risk creators.
A dud policy
National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Jochinke said the move was “utterly staggering” given the level of opposition to the policy.
“Everyone from the Productivity Commission, to the Australian National University and the Freight and Trade Alliance has labelled this policy a dud. It makes zero economic sense,” he said.
“No farming group wants it. It’s an administrative nightmare. And now we even have the importers themselves even calling to scrap it and send them the bill instead!”
“We’re shocked to say the least that they’d ignore the unanimous voices of farmers, importers and policy experts. If they aren’t listening to this broad church of voices who are they listening to?” Mr Jochinke asked.
The tabling of legislation has been accompanied by a media announcement of a ‘Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel’ – aimed at easing industry concerns about oversight of the funding.
Stakeholders cynical
Mr Jochinke said the announcement had been met with cynicism by industry stakeholders.
“It’s pretty clear this panel is being tacked on at the 11th hour to try and give the levy some credibility.”
“All it’s done is demonstrate the continued shambles this process has become – with stakeholders yet to receive formal invites, or any detail on the Panel’s scope and role.
“Given we flat out oppose the Biosecurity Levy, we’ll think carefully about any role that might be construed as endorsement.”
The NFF has called on parliamentarians to reject the bills.
Buchholz speaks out
Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz has slammed the new biosecurity tax saying it will increase the cost of living for local families and hit local growers hard.
Speaking in Federal Parliament, Buchholz said that Labor’s new biosecurity tax will charge farmers for the biosecurity costs of big foreign importers bringing their product to Australia.
“This is a tax that is not deserved by a primary industry sector that serves our nation professionally, with integrity, and adopts new technologies in a very sophisticated way to give them global competitiveness”.
Buchholz said he has spoken with a number of local growers who would be hit by Labor’s new Biosecurity Tax.
“These local growers, without prompting, raised this piece of legislation as a catastrophic concern for them moving forward”.
“This new biosecurity tax has united peak bodies, from the National Farmers’ Federation, to AUSVEG, and everyone in between. There is not one peak body out there which is supporting the government’s position on this obscure tax”.
A serious matter
“Establishing a new tax is a serious matter for the Parliament to consider. Waving one through with this many hairs on it would be a policy disaster,” Mr Jochinke concluded.
