Australia has a new agriculture minister, with an assistant to the portfolio also appointed
Tasmania’s Julie Collins has been appointed as Australia’s new agriculture minister.
She takes over from Murray Watt in the role as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
Collins had held the portfolios of housing and homelessness plus small business for the past two years and will remain small business minister.
She has held her seat in parliament since 2007 and has previously served as shadow agriculture minister.
“Agriculture plays a vital role in our country, and our national economy continues to rely on a strong and diverse sector,” Collins says.
“As a representative of so many incredible farmers in my own electorate, I am committed to engaging and listening to our rural communities and representing Australia’s farmers.”
National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke says he hopes the new minister will be a positive advocate for the NFF’s stated goal of reaching $100 billion in farmgate output by 2030.
“We need Minister Collins to work closely and collaboratively with industry to strengthen agriculture’s relationship with the Government. We look forward to meeting with her soon,” he says.
“What farmers are looking for is a demonstration of this government’s commitment to our $100 billion growth target.
“We want to see positive plans and investments to grow the economy through food and fibre production.”
Queensland senator Anthony Chisholm will be the assistant agriculture minister, and Farmers for Climate Action CEO Natalie Collard has applauded this decision.
“Agriculture has never been more important to Australia’s future, and the appointment of an assistant minister reflects this,” she says.
“Minister Collins brings a firm knowledge of agriculture from her previous experience as shadow minister, as well as an important Tasmanian perspective.
“We welcome her leadership. We look forward to working with her as minister.”
Jochinke also says while outgoing minister Murray Watt’s tenure featured several contentious issues, there is also much to credit him for.
“Minister Watt’s time will most likely be remembered for its heated conflicts with the sector – from live sheep, to water buybacks, to the biosecurity tax proposal and visa disputes,” Jochinke says.
“There’s no doubt we’ve seen some policies that have deeply impacted and enraged our sector.
“But we also acknowledge his partnership and willingness to work with the sector on sustainability, establishing the workplace tripartite working group, and delivery of enhanced funding for biosecurity.
“His commitment to normalising our trade with China and ensuring Australian agriculture didn’t end up with a bad deal in the EU free trade agreement will also be remembered well.
“With minister Watt now leading the employment and workplace relations portfolio, we hope his knowledge of producers’ concerns surrounding the recent industrial relations changes means their concerns are addressed,” Jochinke adds.