FEDERAL Member for Blair Shayne Neumann, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt visited Tim Beattie’s dairy farm and Nobbyview Jersey Stud in Glamorgan Vale on June 12.
This visit provided an opportunity to discuss issues that local dairy and beef industries face, along with talking about the federal budget for agriculture in regional Australia.
Mr Neumann said that the visit was also attended by representatives from EastAUS Milk.
“It was good to talk to Tim Beattie about opportunities and challenges that the local dairy and beef industries are faced with,” he said.
“Agriculture is a major industry in Ipswich, the Somerset, and the surrounding regions in my electorate, and I would like to thank Tim and his family for the contribution they make to our local economy.”
Senator Watt said the dairy industry was the third largest agricultural industry and supports many regional economies and jobs.
“Dairy farmers have been getting good prices in recent years, but we are working with the sector to be ready for drought and other challenges,” he said.
“This year’s May budget delivered sustainable biosecurity funding for the first time, and we are working with industry to keep exotic animal and plant diseases out, whilst keeping our industries strong.
“We are building better climate change and disaster resilience with our $1 billion Disaster Readiness Fund, as we move from a wetter La Nina weather pattern to a drier El Nino cycle, and we have included funding for drought preparedness in the October and May budgets.
“Finally, we have secured trade agreements that boost market access for our clean, green produce, including dairy products, and we continue to work on a number of trade agreements and relationships to grow our exports.”
