Deegan Review the tonic to most 457 visa ills: NFF
AUSTRALIA’S farm sector could be spared rigid, costly red tape if the Final Report of the Deegan Review into the subclass 457 visa is adopted by the Federal Government. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) says the recommendations reflect the practical overhaul needed by farmers who employ a growing number of migrant workers. “While our farm […]
Ag teacher wins national ‘Trade & Skills Teacher of the Year’ Award
TONIGHT Dr Brian Heim follows his win as Australia’s top agriculture teacher for 2008 by taking the title of ‘Australia’s Trade and Skills Teacher of the Year’ – having held out 14 finalists from eight industry categories – under the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence (ITSE) Australian Training Awards, presented during a gala ceremony at […]
National IR system in jeopardy, say farmers
UNLESS all states refer their industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth, the Federal Government’s bold and ambitious pledge to achieve nationally-consistent industrial relations laws will be seriously jeopardised, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned today. “We commend the Federal Government for tackling the jumble of workplace relations systems that beset Australian workplaces – recognising that […]
Winners & losers in a mixed bag this winter harvest
THE mixed fortunes of Australian farmers were evident this month as global prices and domestic production fluctuated across commodities and regions. Despite the overall Westpac-NFF Commodity Index falling only 1.3% over October, this masks volatile price movements – from falls of 9.2% to gains of 7.6%. While grain and wool prices decreased by 9.2% and […]
World farmers meet in Australia
Statement by NFF CEO Ben Fargher THE National Farmers’ Federation will be hosting the 151st Executive Committee meeting of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) next week in Canberra, with delegates travelling from South America, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Africa and Asia to attend. The NFF has been involved with IFAP, the world […]
'Hot Air' trashes property rights
THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) today hit out at prevailing comments by some politicians, environmentalists, and others in the community that compare the Federal Government’s purchase of water to the purchase of “air”, “hot air” or “air space”. “Such comments show a lack of understanding for entitlements and water management across the Basin and NFF […]
Rural trade and skills teachers recognised for their excellence
THE best Trade and Skill Agriculture Teacher and Conservation and Land Management Teacher were recognised at a prestigious ceremony in Sydney recently and thanked for their contribution to the skill needs of the nation and regional Australia. Mr Duncan Fraser, Chair of the NFF Rural Industry Reference Group of the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence […]
Any new drought policy needs to secure the present and transition to the future
Statement by NFF President David Crombie: NFF notes the release today of the Productivity Commission Draft Report into drought support. The Productivity Commission (PC) calls for a new policy framework that encompasses broader risk management challenges, not just drought. This is consistent with the NFF submission to the PC which called for a national policy […]
Aussie farmers set to withstand global financial chaos
AS all sectors weigh up the implications of the global financial crisis, Australian farmers are relatively well positioned to weather the storm. Notably, the Westpac-NFF Commodity Index declined by less than 2% in September despite sharp corrections across various global markets. Westpac Senior Agribusiness Economist Andrew Hanlan noted: “The Australian dollar can play a cushioning […]
Social impacts review confirms NFF’s call for drought reform
THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has fully endorsed the findings of the Expert Social Panel on Drought – the result of the most comprehensive assessment of the social impacts of drought on Australian farm families and rural communities. “The Report emphasises that a dry climate may be a permanent challenge facing Australian farmers and our […]