All bets are on as the Federal Election draws close
By Joanna Cave, CEO GIA
But for the formal announcement, the 2022 Federal Election is upon us. Candidates are sporting new haircuts, different spectacles and improved silhouettes and the campaigning walk and talk is well underway. The only question remaining is which Saturday will be chosen as the polling day ahead of the deadline of 21 May.
It is no surprise therefore that I have been spending quite a bit of time in Canberra recently. Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) was one of the peak bodies consulted by Senator Bridget McKenzie on the Government’s rescue and recovery response to the devastating floods impacting New South Wales and Queensland. When these opportunities to influence policy present themselves, it is essential that GIA is able to clearly articulate the real-time impact on our industry. Our colleagues at Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT (NGINA) and Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) provided vital insights into what was happening on the ground for their members located in the flooded regions. In addition to infrastructure damage, stock losses and sales downturns experienced by many businesses, we also reported that many staff employed in horticulture had been individually impacted, which, in addition to compounding the labour shortages already trending across the industry, reinforces the need for relief packages to include mental health support for those dealing with devastating personal loss.
The Horticulture Council of the National Farmers’ Federation also met to consider, amongst other things, its policies for the general election. Here thirty-seven peak bodies and commodity groups gather and whilst distilling their individual priorities into a shortlist supported by all might seem unlikely, it was interesting to observe the concerns common to most of us: labour shortages, rising supply chain costs and biosecurity all featured strongly.
So what does the general election mean for Australian horticulture? It depends on who you ask of course, and in the GIA e-News issues leading up the election we will be inviting various industry figures to share with us their own policy dreams (and nightmares). We will also be providing some analysis of the policy platforms and election promises offered by each of the main parties. Horticulture is potentially impacted by several portfolios: agriculture, water, environment, sustainability, disaster management, climate change, education, employment, trade and industry are all relevant. I know from meeting and talking to many of you that all these topics are on your minds whilst some represent passionately held beliefs: many of you see opportunities for the horticulture industry to be a standard bearer in sustainability, change maker in the global response to climate change and entrepreneur in new export markets.
Whichever party prevails, it is likely that some or all the Ministers and Policy Advisers we know now will change and the process of building relationships will begin anew. It is GIA’s business to become known to each of the decisions makers that impact our industry and to ensure they remain aware of your cares and concerns. So please continue to let us know what you think. Whatever your political stripe, one thing is certain: it matters, and never more so than in an election year. And for what it is worth, I am betting we will be going to the polls on Saturday 14 May.