Workforce planning and migration issues
Overseas workers play a small but important part in the Australian agricultural industry, helping farmers fill labour shortages at peak times when local labour is difficult to access. Migration programs are designed to be secondary sources of labour, with employers looking to Australian workers first, before filling gaps with overseas workers where necessary. In 2010-11, […]
Farm Safety
Ensuring the safety of Australian farmers and farming families is a priority for the NFF. A founding member of Farmsafe Australia and an active participant in National Farm Safety Week, the NFF shares the Farmsafe vision of: productive Australian farms free from health and safety risks. The NFF has been particularly active on the issue […]
Industrial Relations
The NFF represents the farming sector in annual wage decisions, ongoing workplace relations reforms, workforce deregulation and flexible workplace relations, and works actively to address the chronic labour shortage in regional Australia.
Livestock exports
The Australian livestock export industry has undergone major changes over the last several years, as a result of the ABC Four Corners report into live exports in 2012, the Government suspension and the subsequent resumption of trade. At the heart of these changes has been ensuring continuous improvements in animal welfare. The suspension of the […]
Animal Welfare Policy
Australian farmers value the trust that the community places in them and know that community acceptance of the way they care for animals is essential to the agriculture industry’s success. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is committed to ongoing and transparent dialogue with the community about the management of animal welfare. Engagement with the community […]
Biosecurity
Australia’s biosecurity system is fundamental to the success of our agriculture industries; to the health of our natural environment and our society and economy at large. An adequately funded and well-resourced and effective system will be an essential part of industry achieving our goal of $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030. The primary […]
Natural Capital
Farmers manage 52% of the Australian landscape. The NFF recognises the importance of the environment for Australian agriculture as well as the broader public for the intrinsic soil, water, and living organism services it provides. In order to work towards sustainability, Australian farmers must be afforded market-based recognition for the stewardship of these ecosystem services […]
Murray-Darling Basin Plan
Policy Position The NFF supports a healthy Murray-Darling Basin that truly balances the economic, social and environmental objectives our nation enjoys from our largest river system. The NFF favours the implementation of the Plan, recognising there are a number of improvements which need to be made to make it fairer and more workable. Governments must […]
Prime Agricultural Land
Policy Position The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) recognises the importance of prime agricultural land. The long-term success of the agricultural industry will be dependent on continued access to land and water resources and requires a longterm strategy centred on the productivity of our food and fibre systems. Prime agricultural land is a crucial consideration in […]
Industry Engagement Guidelines for On-farm Activities
The National Farmers’ Federation has developed a national code of conduct incorporating principles to guide respectful and constructive engagement between farmers and industries that require access to land. It relates to activity on farmland including: renewables (solar and wind) development, cultural heritage studies and surveys, carbon industry, the resources industry as well as others that […]