Greens serve Rice for agriculture

Senator Rice’s promotion came after Greens’ leader Senator Richard Di Natale made several portfolio changes designed to re-energise the party’s policy focus in the new parliament that officially started this week in Canberra.

SA Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was dumped from her immigration portfolio but has reclaimed water policy and will pressure Nationals leader and Agriculture Water Minister Barnaby Joyce and his assistant minister, SA Liberal Senator Anne Ruston.

Senator Hanson-Young will also shadow the two Coalition members on issues concerning the Murray Darling Basin Plan and has also gained duties on trade covering areas like the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Senator Rice first entered the Senate in 2014 and describes herself as a passionate environmentalist and activist, for over 30 years.

She grew up in Melbourne’s western suburbs and lives in Footscray with her partner Penny and their two adult sons.

Senator Rice told Fairfax Agricultural Media taking on the agriculture portfolio for the Australian Greens was a great challenge and honour.

“My thanks goes to my colleague Senator Rachel Siewert for being such a strong voice as the Greens’ previous agriculture spokesperson,” she said.

“Agriculture is critical to Australia’s well-being for our own food and fibre production, as well as our export income.

“I am committed to creating more opportunities for a sustainable agricultural sector that looks after land, water and wildlife.

“I will work with farmers, stakeholders and other decision makers to ensure that producers get paid a fair price, high quality agricultural land is protected from urban encroachment, Australia maintains control over key agricultural resources, food waste is dealt with effectively and we are making the most of clean energy.”

Senator Di Natale lives on a farm in Victoria and would have been welcomed as the party’s new agricultural spokesperson given his strong stance earlier this year speaking out in support of the science underpinning genetic modification in crop production, due to his medical background.

However, due to his heavy work-load he retained health, sport and multiculturalism in his portfolio duties.

Greens’ deputy-leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters will maintain her focus on protecting farmland from environmental damage due to mining and resources while Melbourne MP Adam Bandt will hold science, research and innovation.

Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson speak for the party on treasury and consumer affairs issues while Senator Rice’s duties also includes LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning).

Senator Di Natale said due to the outstanding advocacy of his parliamentary team, the Australian Greens had been leading the debate on the major environmental, economic and social challenges facing the nation.

“This change gives our MPs an opportunity to take on new challenges as well as focus on issues of importance to the future of their home state and the nation - the team is energised by the challenge ahead,” he said.

Senator Siewert said the agriculture portfolio would be in good hands with Senator Rice, “who will work hard to work with regional communities and our farmers and to ensure food security”.

“Having held the agriculture portfolio for 11 years, I am happy to pass on the baton,” she said.

“I am happy to have gained the mental health portfolio, which is an important issue that touches every Australian, including farmers.

“Senator Rice and I will ensure a comprehensive handover to each other in both areas.”

Senator Hanson-Young said she would focus on reigning in and scrutinising so called ‘free’ trade deals, like the TPP, in her new role.

“I want to make sure that these deals, which seem to only help big business, are given the maximum possible scrutiny by the Federal Parliament,” she said.

“Increasing imports and sending jobs overseas may help the big end of town but it leaves many regular Australians high and dry without work.”

Queensland LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan said he wasn’t aware of Senator Rice’s farm credentials but warned her party’s policies needed constant monitoring on the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee he’s expected to Chair.

Today Senator O’Sullivan was endorsed by the Senate as the new Committee Chair - to replace retired NSW Liberal Senator and grain and sheep farmer Bill Heffernan - with the appointment to be formalised at its first meeting in the new parliament.

“The Greens will always be a challenge from the minute you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night; particularly in the space of agriculture,” he said.

“These people don’t want to change the way we operate in agriculture - they want to stop agriculture - and they think we can all survive on tofu but yet they haven’t even got a sense that tofu comes from agriculture production.

“But like everything in this place, you make every effort you can to have a working relationship with all of the delegates on the committee and Janet Rice is no different and hopefully it’ll be constructive and in the best interests of the sector.”