NATIONALS leader, David Littleproud, says farmers and families have secured a huge cost-of-living win, after Labor was forced to bin its bad fresh food tax.
Mr Littleproud said The Nationals’ successful motion in the Senate to remove Labor’s fresh food tax, known as the biosecurity protection levy, has allowed common sense to prevail.
“Labor’s fresh food tax would have hurt families at the checkout as well as 84 agricultural commodities, which faced taxes to raise $150 million over three years, to pay for the risks created by their competitors, which is those importing from overseas,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Labor’s senseless and terrible tax idea will thankfully never see the light of day, after an enormous campaign by The Nationals in conjunction with industry and farmers to stop its reckless fresh food tax.
“The Nationals are proud to have saved families and farmers from this bad fresh food tax, which would have increased food prices even further and hurt our farmers even more.
“It was senseless when better alternatives were offered by The Nationals, such as an importer container levy, which would charge importers, not our own farmers, to pay for biosecurity risks being created as produce comes into the country.
“However, Labor and the Greens haven’t ruled out taxing Australian agriculture and farmers in the future – the Coalition calls on them to do so, immediately.”
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie moved the motion and said The Nationals have delivered an embarrassing defeat to the government on the floor of the Senate, removing a tax Labor should never have proposed.
“Not only would this tax have driven up the price of fresh food, with farmers forced to pass on costs, it would have also undermined the entire levy system, causing chaos and confusion across industry,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Families need food that is more affordable and our farmers need support to get food from paddock to plate. While Labor tried to introduce the exact opposite, The Nationals will always fight for common sense, for fairness, and affordable food and fibre.”
