The federal election according to experienced commentators is a forgone conclusion. The Labor party is at prohibitive odds with bookmakers and the conservatives are at juicy odds. Remember it is a two horse race and Australian elections are always close, so the juicy odds are tempting for mine. Therefore, if there is a change of government, the new minister for agriculture and water resources will be Joel Fitzgibbon, member for Hunter, NSW. In government, Mr Fitzgibbon served as Minister for Defence and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (for 11 weeks when Rudd was punted). I had the opportunity to attend a rural press club lunch where the “minister in waiting” made a number of points worth reviewing. Concerning the Agriculture portfolio he made it perfectly clear he wants to be appointed the minister for agriculture should Labour win. Mr Fitzgibbon instigated the “Country Caucus” a group of rural and regional Labor members of parliament who focus on rural and regional issues. He does appear to have a strong rapport with industry leaders who attended the lunch and they appear comfortable with him. Mr Fitzgibbon passion and interest in agriculture is evidenced by his words. However, Labor policy is that the live sheep trade will be phased out over five years. Good luck, in the current political environment, the odds are that there will be a change of government for sure within the five years so that policy might never gain any real traction. He did however give an unequivocal commitment that the live cattle export trade in Northern Australia will continue and emphasised the importance of Indonesia to the live trade and to Australian businesses in general.
Improving the health and education facilities and infrastructure in regional and rural towns will be a priority for a Shorten government according to Mr Fitzgibbon.
"I have a long standing interest in regional development policy and population dispersal and all of my consultations and research over many years leave me in no doubt that the key to attracting the people we need, and holding onto those we already have, is to ensure local communities have good health, education and telecommunications services," he said.
Mr Fitzgibbon also stated that his guiding objective would be productivity and sustainable profitability and taking the conversation to a higher and more sophisticated level. A real problem for both sides was that at the last federal election when he was helping at polling booths, voters were requesting Clive Palmer how to vote cards that is a worry.
The twin tragedies in the eastern states of the country will have a significant impact on the red meat industry and livestock producers for up to a decade. The continuing drought in central and southern Queensland, similar conditions across NSW and an ordinary season through most of Victoria, combined with the flooding devastation in the north of Queensland will take many years for all involved to recover. The trading cycle of the entire supply chain will be disrupted at all levels from producers to processors/exporters to retailers. All will suffer, but not as much as the producer on the land will. Emotionally they are vulnerable and privately in pain. It is important that we who can, pick up the phone and say, “Gidday, are you OK” to people you know enduring these devastating and trying times. They need to know we care and that they will be supported for as long as it takes. In time they will all bounce back, they are tough operators, although a scar will always remain.
The Landmark Tamworth Performance Horse Classic was again an outstanding success with an average of $14,600 for this year’s sale. Most notable was the Australian record price for performance filly, Yaven Smooth Spin for $230,000, which was purchased by Steven and Toni Hart from Googong. The filly was out of a successful open draft-winning mare in One More Romance and was offered for sale by John and Jen Corbett, Clear Hills Adelong. A number of performance horses made their way back to Queensland.
