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Farmers' green role still attracts critics
15 Oct 2003
The National Farmers' Federation conducted a survey of farmers' "green" credentials between April and June 2003. The views of about 100 people in 10 focus groups in capital cities and rural areas were sought, as well as phone surveys of 600 people in federal electorates held by margins of less than 6 per cent.
Only half the community think farmers manage the environment well, but very few say they are "vandals", according to the survey. While most people say farmers should have secure rights to land and water, many believe "cockies" can't manage these resources.
The survey found 49 per cent rated farmers "good" environmental managers and 8 per cent rated them "extremely good". Only 13 per cent said farmers were "poor" environmentalists, while 35 per cent had no view. About 95 per cent believed that farmers must have land and water security to manage them in an environmentally sustainable way, and almost 90 per cent also agreed that compensation should be paid if these rights were restricted or removed. But only 55 per cent said farmers could be trusted to look after land without government involvement, while 36 per cent said they couldn't.
Weekly Times, 15/10/03, page 11.
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