Australia
May 6, 2009
Statement by Mr Charles Burke,
Vice President, National Farmers' Federation (NFF)
The
National Farmers' Federation
(NFF) is angry and disillusioned about today’s revelation that
the Rudd Government will cut R&D in agriculture, including in
the area of climate change research.
NFF was crystal clear in its pre-budget submission: agricultural
R&D investment is at critically low levels at present with state
and federal governments slashing their contribution over many
years.
NFF specifically called on government to increase funding, so it
will astound the farm sector that R&D funding is being carved
out. The Government can expect a deep and negative response.
If the Government believes so fundamentally in the challenge
climate change will present agriculture, as they keep saying,
how can it justify cutting research into areas such as climate
change, resource management and water - it is counter-intuitive.
The Government, including Minister Burke himself, has spoken
continuously about the need for productivity improvements and
the challenge of food security and climate change. How can the
so-called Razor Gang expect farmers to meet this challenge if
they slash already wafer thin investment?
The Government has an obligation to support the development of
tools, techniques and technologies to assist farmers manage
challenges such as the vagaries of the climate and the scarcity
of agricultural land and water.
Quite simply research and development underpins the development
of these tools. If R&D programs are cut without them being
replaced elsewhere farmers would be right to feel the Government
is leaving the field when the going gets tough.
NFF understands the pressure the budget is under. Indeed, after
ten years of drought farmers know a bit about tight finances,
but the fact is that there simply is no “fat” to cut in the
agricultural portfolio, it is threadbare enough already.
To make matters worse, industry has not been consulted in regard
to this cut in funding to Land and Water Australia and the Rural
Industries Research Development Corporation. The strength of the
current research and development system in agriculture is a
government and industry partnership. This has the potential to
set an extremely dangerous precedent and NFF will fight to have
R&D funding reinstated. |
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