The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
The Times Politics

.

Labor’s fresh food tax figure plucked out of thin air



Labor is unable to explain its figures and reasoning behind the new fresh food tax on farmers and families.

The new tax, a biosecurity levy on farmers, will be set at a rate equivalent of 10 per cent of the 2020-21 industry-led levies, which is estimated to increase receipts by $153 million over three years from 2024-25.

During Senate Estimates Agriculture Minister Murray Watt justified the tax, saying it was a “shared responsibility” with Australian farmers as well as international importers.

However, when asked why the levy was set at a rate of 10 per cent, Minister Watt admitted he felt 10 per cent “was a fair contribution to make”.

When challenged if the figure had been plucked out of thin air, Minister Watt again replied “the government made a decision that that was a fair contribution”.

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said it was disappointing Labor had failed to undertake any modelling before it started taxing Australian farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of their foreign competitors.

“In what parallel universe does a sovereign government ask their own farmers to pay for the risks their foreign competitors pose to this country, so they can then compete with them here in Australia?” Mr Littleproud said.

“Labor seems to have simply come up with the figure of 10 per cent without modelling, a review or investigation. There is no quantitative basis or reasoning behind its new tax on farmers and its implications for Australian families.

“The Nationals, as part of a Coalition Government, will stop Labor’s new fresh food tax, in order to protect and support our farmers, while also helping to ease financial pressures on families.

“Instead of taxing Australian farmers, we will establish an ‘importer container levy’, as recommended by the independent Craik Biosecurity review.

“Under our plan, importers of foreign products will pay for the biosecurity risk they pose – not Australian farmers.”
Mirvac Harbourside

Times Magazine

YepAI Joins Victoria's AI Trade Mission to Singapore for Big Data & AI World Asia 2025

YepAI, a Melbourne-based leader in enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, announced today...

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an onli...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beau...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data anal...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right c...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in t...

The Times Features

Increase your holdings and hold your increases from a wisely diverse investment portfolio.

What comes to your mind when I ask about which investments are most important to you? I imagine we w...

Canberra Just Got a Glow Up: Inside Kingpin’s Dazzling New Attractions

Canberra’s entertainment scene just levelled up. Kingpin entertainment, Australia’s home of immers...

The Capsule CEO: Ashley Raso’s Reinvention from Property Developer to Fashion Founder

From property developer to creative founder, Raso positions Capsule WD as the wardrobe system resh...

Yellow Canary partners with global payroll audit leader Celery to bring pre-payroll review technology to Australia

Payroll compliance is becoming tougher for Australian employers. Underpayment cases continue to do...

Noticing These 5 Issues? Contact an Emergency Plumber Now

The invisible arteries running through homes, plumbing systems, streamline daily life discreetly...

The Perfect Champagne Day Pairing: Luke Nguyen’s Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef Skewers

Celebrate Champagne Day on October 24th with this delicious recipe and elegant pairing from Luke Ngu...

Bribing kids to eat vegetables might backfire. Here’s what to do instead

It’s a tactic many parents know well: “eat two bites of broccoli, and then you can have desser...

Common Wall Mounting Challenges and How Professionals Solve Them

It is not always as easy as it seems to mount artwork, shelves, or TVs, since some difficulties are ...

Understanding Centrelink Investment Property Valuation: A Guide for Australian Property Owners

Introduction Owning an investment property in Australia can bring financial stability — but it al...