The phones lit up at AgForce in light of the recent article by Robert Gottliebsen in The Australian regarding the Albanese government’s proposed changes affecting family businesses.
As Gottliebsen highlights, the introduction of mandatory codes of conduct in the food industry, the expansion of union involvement, and new regulations on small vehicle emissions could significantly impact family-owned farms and businesses across Regional Australia.
The prospect of mandatory union representation and retrenchment payments, as outlined in the article, might indeed present challenges for family farms. Many of you have built your businesses on close-knit, familial relationships with your employees, a dynamic that could be altered by these changes.
Moreover, the changes to employment and environmental standards could place additional financial strains on producers.
In the usual way your organisation will be taking up these conversations with Government. With polls tightening heading into the State election, we are adding a few extra activities to this year’s work.
- We’re going to hold a State Industry conference on 1 and 2 October 2024 in Brisbane and have invited the Premier to deliver the opening address and will be inviting the leader of the opposition to open day 2. A big turnout to what will be a powerful conversation just before Queenslanders go to the polls will make a difference. Mark your diaries out if possible. Details out over next few weeks.
- We are planning some specific activities around EKKA and Beef24 to celebrate 25 years for AgForce and use that to deliver some powerful messages to state and federal governments.
- AgCarE.org.au is being spun out of AgForce as a separate entity 100% owned by AgForce from 1 July 2024.
Along with our lead national representation through the National Farmers Federation we will be strongly engaged in important conversations designed to ensure no additional burdens on Producers from above, and in the case of things like the Nature Repair Bill using AgCarE to try and lessen the burden.
