Grain Producers Australia welcomes the appointment of The Hon. Julie Collins as the new federal Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry and to be supported by the new Assistant Minister The Hon. Senator Anthony Chisholm.
We also acknowledge the service of The Hon. Murray Watt in this important ministerial role with the added workload of Emergency Services, since the 2022 election in the Albanese Government.
GPA looks forward to continuing our engagement with the federal government and relevant ministers and members of parliament to ensure a fair go and practical outcomes for our farmers.
GPA Chair Barry Large said the new combination of Agriculture and Small Business for Minister Collins makes sense, recognising that because farmers are also running businesses of different sizes and locations that face many challenges not limited to constants seasonal and market fluctuations.
"Having the right support measures in place will ensure our farmers can continue producing food and fibre for Australians and other parts of the world that we export to with our high-quality products," he said.
"We welcome continued engagement and close collaboration to ensure this support is fair and equitable and pragmatic, and the voice of Australian grain producers is clearly understood and included in decision making and policy development processes."
GPA Interim Chief Executive Pete Arkle said Senator Chisholm’s experiences in government and his new portfolio combination will also be valuable in these processes of collaboration and listening to farmers about ways to solve these challenges we face - and to continue producing food and fibre sustainability and affordably, with more certainty.
"GPA looks forward to meeting with Minister Collins and Senator Chisholm again in the near future to discuss these critically important issues," he said.
"It is important that we work together to ensure grain producers can continue playing our vital part doing the work we do to make grains one of the biggest contributors to the agricultural economy and therefore the street of our local communities, small businesses in regional communities and the nation.”
ENDS
Further information:
GPA Chair Barry Large: 0427 549 023
GPA Interim CE Pete Arkle: 0488 772 656
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