NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION BLUEPRINT FOR AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE FORUM TUESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2014

SPEECH

AGRICULTURE AND OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

A little over a year ago a newly re-elected Prime Minister asked me what position I would like to hold in his Cabinet.

Id previously served as Defence Minister and had batted at No.8 in his first Cabinet so understandably and somewhat modestly, I thought I was up to a senior position.

And I had a senior role in mind its called agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Now lets be honest not every politician asked by a PM what he or she would like to do in the name of the country would nominate agriculture in the first instance.

So let me tell you both why I did - and why more should.

First point as the world moves inevitably towards 9 billion plus people, food security will climb to the top of the international public policy conversation. This matters to Australia.

As an exporter of far more food than we produce we do not, and should never face a food security problem.

How well the global community handles the looming supply-demand challenge will have profound implications and consequences for us as a nation and Australias agriculture minister will, or should have, a critical role to play in ensuring we have a seat at the head decision making table.

Second point - that same looming supply-demand imbalance presents Australia with unprecedented export earnings opportunities.

Food bowl, food boom, dining boom - call it what you like the emerging middle classes of Asia have the potential to underpin our future economic prosperity, but only if we are smart.

I dont believe weve been quite smart enough at least not yet.

And while I believe our success or otherwise will be primarily determined by the private sector and its industry leaders who already have significant runs on the board - I do believe there are important roles for government and therefore, a rewarding role for the nations Agriculture Minister. I want to be part of this.

I cite 8 areas in particular where I believe effective government action will be critical:

1. Laying out a strategic vision and plan

2. Tackling the tough natural resource allocation questions

3. Securing the right market access outcomes

4. Establishing the best methods for leveraging public infrastructure funding

5. Establishing and maintaining a regulatory regime which addresses real market failure issues without unnecessarily burdening business with red tape and which is welcoming of investment, including foreign investment

6. Protecting Australias safe, clean green image as a provider of food

7. Maximising our research & development effort allowing us to do more with less while delivering niche products and high returns, and

8. Building human capital through worlds-best-practice education

Each and every one of these points present great challenges for government and so far it hasnt done enough not the current government, not past governments.

Doing better will require greater levels of enthusiasm across every part of government.

And it will take an enthusiastic minister to enthuse the rest.

I was enthusiastic about taking on those challenges when Kevin Rudd asked me that crucial question a year ago and Ive lost none of that enthusiasm.

And Im happy to say I believe Barnaby Joyce shares my enthusiasm hes just not as good at the job as me!

That takes me to my third point and its a more political point than the previous two.

Barnaby and I have both said publically on a number of occasions that - as best we can - we want to bring a bi-partisan approach to agriculture. We mean it.

Sure, there will be times when I have an appropriate crack at him Id be letting you down if I didnt.

But on the whole we dont want agriculture to be subject to the whims of the 3-year political cycle. Its too important.

So if Barnabys agriculture and northern Australia white papers effectively lay the groundwork for what we are trying to achieve then Ill welcome them.

But there is a broader political point.

When I sought the opportunity to serve in the agriculture portfolio I did so partly because I wanted to make Labor as competitive as it can be in this space.

That of course is a good thing for the Labor Partys electoral prospects but it is also more importantly a good thing for agriculture and the communities it supports, economically and socially.

Too often Ive seen rural electorates become stuck between a Coalition which has taken them for granted and a Labor Party which has just found them too hard.

That narrative must end and one of my key main missions in life is to be the person who ends it.

But importantly, I believe that the most effective way to win the hearts and minds in rural and regional Australia is to develop and stick to good policy.

Thats my plan and Im very pleased to have industry leadership groups like the NFF providing the right guidance through its Agriculture Blueprint agenda and its leadership of industry more generally.

There is a wealth of knowledge in this room and I intend to make the most of it.

I look forward to continuing our great working relationship.

ENDS