Farmers’ forum to focus on infrastructure

Agricultural infrastructure will be the focus of a forum in Canberra today where key stakeholders from across the sector have joined with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) to discuss the priorities that must be addressed to ensure ongoing efficiencies in the agribusiness industry.
NFF President Brent Finlay said ‘the forum is a prime opportunity to discuss the important roles both public and private investment can play in enhancing our roads, rails and ports and identifying pathways to relieve the pressure faced by agricultural infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Warren Truss MP will address the forum to provide a government perspective along with leaders from across the sector including the Australian Logistics Council, Prime Super, CSIRO and GrainCorp.
‘Getting the transport supply chain right is so important for the success of the agriculture sector and ensuring our farmers can get their products to market quickly, efficiently and reliably, helps the entire economy’ ARA CEO Bryan Nye said.
The NFF has for some time recognised that to properly address the issue of improving infrastructure we need to have a whole of industry approach. The approach must consider not only the priority areas for investment across Australia but how the private sector can work cooperatively with government to attract the investment needed’ Mr Finlay said.
‘We are excited that we have almost 100 industry leaders attending the forum to help set the agenda for organisations across the supply chain from rail to road to ports.
This forum is part of the long term plan for the sector to develop a strategic plan for agricultural infrastructure that includes the key components of road, rail ports and processing facilities. Infrastructure will be one of the most important aspects of a strong and competitive agricultural sector in Australia in the future.
We are focussed on developing policies and programs that deliver lowest cost paths to market and we can only do this through a collaborative and proactive approach. We must invest in roads, rail and port infrastructure so that we can continue to compete in the global market place and Australia can’t wait- we must take the initiative and drive the agenda’ Mr Finlay concluded.