Australia – a net importer of food

The attached document from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (series 5368.0) shows that ten years ago Australian food exports were 400% higher than imports. They are now only 100% higher. This means Australia’s food surplus is reducing by 30% per year, within 3 ½ years we will be a net importer of food.

Understand clearly: This means that within 4 years Australia will not be able to feed itself.

The Murray Darling buy-back scheme will reduce Australian food production by a further 20%. This impact has not been factored into the above figures.

Under the current regime, food production cannot be increased due to bans, restrictions and regulations covering our land. We have failed in our fight against the Greens who must be fed on a new victory every 6 months. Almost the entire finishing industry in Northern Australia has been closed down. Three years ago we were net exporters of seafood, this year 72% will be imported. The latest victory has been a temporary suspension of live exports to Indonesia.

We have failed in our fight against the free trade zealotry of successive governments. At a public meeting last year AQIS (a body that serves its real master ‘free trade’) could not name a single application to import fruit, vegetables or meats that they have rejected in the last 7 years.

This importation cripples our remaining farms with product that does not meet our stringent health, hygiene and environmental standards, enabling this overseas product to be infinitely cheaper than the clean green Australian product.

AusParty’s Roadmap for the Future The Australian Party will introduce a level playing field providing support levels the same as those of other OECD countries:

• The introduction of a 10 per cent customs duty on all imports into Australia, including of course agricultural product;
• All product imported into Australia will contain a warning label advising consumers that this product has not been produced under the stringent health, hygiene and environmental standards required in Australia and therefore may be dangerous to your health;
• Woolworths and Coles (currently holding nearly 90 per cent of the Australian food market) will, along with any other food retailer, be reduced to a maximum of 22 per cent market share;
• Farmers will be granted the same rights to collectively bargain as enjoyed by the rest of the Australian population – access to arbitration. This is particularly relevant in industries such as sugar and dairying.