From supermarket price gouging, flood recovery and chaos at our ports, farmers are fed up with political point scoring and little action that leads us up the road to nowhere.
The below is written by VFF President Emma Germano and appeared in the Weekly Times:
“Have we ever experienced a time with so many issues and no path forward from our leaders?
Every topic has some twit politically grandstanding, spewing out ideological nonsense without a common-sense solution in sight.
Take supermarket price gouging dominating headlines. Yes, it’s clear the power of the duopoly can leave both the farmer and shopper getting a raw deal when they can least afford it.
Politician after politician have stuck the boot into the major chains, with no hesitation. Though I’m usually the first to bash a supermarket, the last thing we need is another inquiry or review (actually three) with no power to address relationship issues between the chains and suppliers.
The threat of which is Labor, desperate for re-election having done little to fix the cost of living crisis – suggesting fixing the price of food. Remember Minister Watt and the cute calls to freeze the price of ham?
It’s all a smokescreen of course. PM Albanese is conveniently pointing the finger at supermarkets rather than address issues like the cost of labour and energy.
Speaking of the PM, on commentary about flood (again) in parts of Victoria, the first thing out of his mouth is more ‘climate change’ rubbish. Unable to help themselves, Labor dog-whistles to the Greens and teals about emission targets and renewables. Those renewables of course will now compete for space in prime agriculture country. Neighbours turning against neighbours, as some farmers profit from commercial agreements whilst others host transmission in a forced ‘charitable act’ for the Australian community.
If we are to believe that climate change is causing more frequent and extreme weather events, would logic not flow that we would pour resources into community resilience? Does it make sense that we turn out the lights as electricity prices sky-rocket in the name of global warming, but fail to prepare ourselves for its apparent effects?
Never mind supermarket power, right now the wharfies’ union controls the ports of Australia spoiling millions of dollars of goods. Holding the country to ransom demanding enterprise agreements that enshrine ‘jobs for their mates’ and higher pay, perishable products be damned.
It should be illegal to strike and waste food, but we would never expect a government to step in and do something meaningful. After all, it could cost votes. The number one aim of the game is to get re-elected, of course.
As we get stuck into 2024 we need for common sense and integrity from our leaders. The time for ‘populist’ talk is over.”