Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to remind the Australian parliament of the contribution of our agricultural sector to the broader Australian economy. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our agricultural sector and we believe that those in the sector should be able to prosper. If I think over the number of months since the coalition has come to power, we have seen the currency drop, sea freight at low levels, low fossil fuel prices and very low interest rates. In the Australian agricultural sector, every 1c drop in the Australian currency translates to an extra $320 million in producers' pockets. We have opened markets, with free trade agreements with Japan, China and South Korea. In 1982, sheepmeat was exported to 12 countries, and at times we had to shoot sheep because there was no money in it; now we export sheepmeat to 96 countries. This has been a prosperous and good outcome for our producers.

Australia is blessed with innovative producers. We pray that we will have good seasonal conditions in 2015. The Australian government is standing shoulder to shoulder with hardworking Australian farmers. Hopefully, with good seasonal conditions, good government and farmers' hard work, they will be able to continue to grow and prosper as they produce our food and our fibre.