Labor's deafening silence: rural Australia still 'on hold'
“IN THIS federal election campaign, Labor’s plan to cash-in rural Australia’s $2 billion Communications Fund will leave at least 87%* of the country cut off from getting the telecommunications upgrades they will need into the future,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie said today. “The NFF is still waiting for Labor to answer our […]
Trade reform win for Aussie farmers
AUSTRALIAN farmers and agricultural exporters were delivered a major win in the election campaign last night with the release of the Coalition’s trade policy, delivering in full all of the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF) key trade election platform goals. “While most of the food Australians eat everyday comes from our farmers, a significant 70% of […]
Expansion of technical colleges a boost for agriculture
MODERN Australian farming is facing an unprecedented demand for skilled labour. Education, training and trade skill development is vital as labour and skills shortages continue to constrain our future farm capacity. “As major regional employers – over 330 000 direct on-farm jobs – farming must be able to attract, train and retain workers to deliver […]
How will Labor future-proof rural telecommunications?
“LABOR remains adamant they will remove rural Australia’s telecommunications insurance policy – the $2 billion Communications Fund,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie declared today. “In doing so, Labor abandons those Australians living and working in over 87%* of the country to fund their broadband policy, lumping rural families, communities and businesses with second-rate […]
Industrial Relations: "Now is not the time to be looking back"
“FLEXIBILITY in the workplace – especially for small businesses – allows employers and employees to reach amicable agreements to mutual benefit,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie said today. “Farms are among Australia’s most important small businesses, employing over 330,000 people direct on-farm – with one-in-six of all Australian jobs hinging on the farm […]
How about a transport plan?
BOTH sides of politics have been slammed by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) for their scattergun approach to transport spending in this election campaign, saying the parties are targeting electorates at the expense of Australia’s national transport needs. “Both parties need to stop and take account of what is actually needed,” NFF Vice-President Charles Burke […]
Farmers launch national advertising blitz for election ‘07
AT THIS federal election, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is weighing in on the key issues for Australian farmers with a national television and radio advertising campaign – encompassing metropolitan and regional markets. The campaign zeros in on three of its election issues: * Drought preparedness in a changing climate (metro and regional television); * […]
Labor to rob rural Australia’s telecommunications future
A FEDERAL Labor Government will abolish a pivotal scheme that ensures rural Australians continue to the get affordable access to the latest telecommunications – the $2 billion Communications Fund. “Labor’s stated policy is to cut rural Australia’s telecommunications lifeline by scrapping the Communications Fund and denying those people and communities the future-proofing they are currently […]
‘2007 Trade Teacher of the Year’ announced today
THREE of Australia’s top rural educators were recognised today in a ceremony for the inaugural ‘2007 Rural Trade Teacher of the Year’ Awards. The Awards, run by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) in conjunction with the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence, aim to raise the profile of rural trade skills teaching and its importance to […]
Faux campaign finally canned, now for the real deal
FEDERAL Labor goes into the election campaign-proper with a healthy lead in the polls. It is now critical that all political parties demonstrate, in specific detail, their plans for the future of Australia’s vital agricultural base. “In its pre-election positioning Labor has already reflected parts of NFF’s 2007 Federal Election Policy Platform (released 19 September),” […]