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WA, SA farmers threaten to fight policy at poll
27 Aug 2004
The West Australian and South Australian Farmers' Federations will step up their campaign against the National Competition Policy and may make it an issue at the federal election.
The farm groups have begun a three-step campaign with newspaper advertisements calling on the Federal Government to reconsider deregulation in the agriculture sector, arguing competition policy is damaging Australia's export competitiveness.
The SA Farmers' Federation cited the deregulation of the dairy and egg industries, and proposed removal of the single desk for barley exports, as examples of reforms that could reduce Australia's ability to compete in global markets.
The next part of the campaign will call into question who the groups might support at the federal election. The Labor states have called for the scrapping of the NCP, but federal Labor has pledged to maintain it.
National Farmers' Federation CEO Anna Cronin said the NFF supports an open and competitive market economy but has concerns about the way NCP is being implemented.
Australian Financial Review, 26/8/04.
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