Among the signatories is Grain Producers Australia.

“Australian producers take biosecurity seriously on our farms every single day,” GPA chair Barry Large said.

“That’s why we already pay significant amounts to fund biosecurity protections directly within our own businesses.

GPA chair and WA grower Barry Large.

“We also pay directly through other compulsory industry levies that raise hundreds of millions of dollars, including biosecurity levies.

“We’ve been calling for increased funding and protections to make the system better and fairer for producers with increased accountability and shared responsibility, but this proposal in its current form is grossly unfair and fundamentally flawed and needs to be reversed.”

The letter to the Prime Minister says the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s overall biosecurity investment over the past six years totals about $220 million, which includes $42.3M in 2022-23, and that Meat and Livestock Australia’s total was more than $26M for 2023.

The letter states:

The principles of this policy proposal do not accord with the recent Productivity Commission report into levies, which assesses the policy against well-understood criteria. The independent Productivity Commission analysis also supports industry’s view that this is a tax. It is proposed to be non-
hypothecated and carries multiple risks and consequences. In particular, the producer groups represented here share grave concerns about the flawed approach and inequity of this new tax proposal. Primarily, it unfairly punishes those already doing the right thing (ie levy-paying producers are being forced to pay more taxes), whilst others continue to avoid making any contribution to biosecurity costs and shared responsibilities.

WoolProducers Australia CEO Jo Hall said producers, processors and exporters all along the agriculture, food and fibre supply chains are strongly opposed to this proposed tax being introduced.

Ms Hall said recent commentary about cost-of-living pressures and pricing transparency had highlighted the fact farmers are also doing it tough, whilst the seasonal pressures are relentless.

“Farmers are facing ever increasing pressures to produce food that’s affordable, and the highest quality in the world, whilst others rake-in record profits,” Ms Hall said.

“This move by the Federal Government will only amplify these production pressures by hitting farmers with another tax that’s nothing more than double dipping and cost-shifting on biosecurity.”

Summer Fruit Australia CEO Trevor Ranford said primarily the new tax unfairly punishes those already doing the right thing (ie levy-paying producers are being forced to pay more taxes), whilst others continue to avoid making any contribution to biosecurity costs and shared responsibilities.

Mr Ranford said producer representatives are subsequently calling for an immediate reversal of the government’s flawed “one-size-fits-all” tax proposal to prevent these unintended consequences.

“This decision would help start the process of repairing the damage that’s already been inflicted on trust and confidence in the existing levy system, and key partnerships with producers,” Mr Ranford said.

“It will also allow a more considered approach to accommodate levy payers’ concerns.”

The joint letter urges Treasury “to conduct proper detailed economic analysis/modelling” of the proposal, including providing the criteria used to label agricultural producers as the only beneficiaries of the biosecurity system and not others who also benefit from strong biosecurity and food security.

Individual producers and others are urged to write to their local MPs and the Minister, to reinforce their opposition to the proposal, and call for its immediate reversal, and can access the campaign page which includes a template letter on the GPA website.