ADF president Ben Bennett said he was pleased to welcome a minister from a strong state for agricultural production, including dairy. Ms Collins is a Tasmanian MP.
“We appreciate Minister Collins’ acknowledgement of the vital role that agriculture plays in our country,” Mr Bennett said.
NFF Horticulture Council chair Jolyon Burnett said having a minister from a state where primary industries remained a significant contributor to the local economy should ensure a keener ear would be given to the needs of the sector.
“We are glad to have Minister Collins taking on this hugely important portfolio,” Mr Burnett said.
“She obviously has the benefit of having been the shadow minister in opposition but also an inevitable affinity for horticulture, being a product herself of the Apple Isle.
“Beyond apples, Tasmania is an important producer of many other horticultural crops, including cherries, berries, potatoes and vegetables.”
Mr Bennett said the dairy industry was facing serious challenges, including the ongoing issues of profitability, sustainability and regulation.
“Those challenges require strategic policy support and robust collaboration between government and industry stakeholders,” he said.
“We look forward to working collaboratively to address the challenges and harness the opportunities ahead.”
Mr Bennett said the ADF was inviting the minister on a farm tour, providing the opportunity for her to engage directly with industry experts and local farmers, witness first-hand the innovative practices that make dairy a global leader and discuss the issues impacting the dairy sector.
Mr Burnett said he was pleased Ms Collins would keep the small business portfolio as well as her new agriculture minister role.
“We have some 12,000 horticultural businesses across the country, the vast majority of which are hard-working family businesses,” he said.
“The set of challenges facing the horticulture sector are emblematic of small businesses everywhere, including rapidly increasing costs of production, driven by inflation but also decisions of government, and vulnerability to unbalanced trading relationships.”
The NFF Horticulture Council also noted the significance of former agriculture minister, Murray Watt, moving into the employment and workplace relations portfolio.
“Depending on the crop, labour costs in horticulture can constitute anywhere between 30 and 60 per cent of the cost of production,” Mr Burnett said.
“We know over the past couple of years Minister Watt has developed a considered appreciation for the labour and workforce settings horticulture needs to not just maintain our national food security but to expand our export markets.
“We congratulate Minister Watt on his appointment to this weighty portfolio and look forward to continuing a dialogue in his new capacity.”
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