BARKER MP Tony Pasin has been selected to chair a parliamentary committee tasked with examining the future of rural Australia amid a Federal Government commitment to make agriculture a $100b industry by 2030.
Announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the “regional renaissance” aims to boost the size and scale of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industry from its current $60b value.
Mr Morrison said the select committee was an important method in examining the “great stories” of country communities.
Mr Pasin said the spotlight on Australia’s country areas and the economic value of primary production was in the national interest.
“Our economy was built on the back of primary production and our regions continue to punch above their weight,” he said.
“I want to see this select committee bring together the stories and experience of how regional economies are diversifying, how regional industries are finding their way and how regional communities are boosting their resilience and working together to secure their future.
“I know there are some great success stories out there, even in the tough times of drought.
“We have a lot to celebrate and an exciting future for the industry.”
The National Farmers’ Federation, who have long pushed the boosting of agricultural production, said the announcement had the potential to usher in an “exciting new era” for regional Australia.
President Fiona Simson said government support was critical to meeting industry’s plan to grow farm-gate revenue.
“There’s no denying a 70pc increase in farm-gate revenue would be transformational for Australia, but achieving that vision is by no means a given,” she said.
“We have consistently said that achieving this ambitious target will take significant buy-in from government, in the form of a whole-of-government plan for agriculture.
“The plan the Prime Minister has now committed to developing is precisely the sort of leadership we have been calling for.”
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) said the specific inclusion of forestry in the government’s plans was good news for the sector’s future development.
Association chief executive Ross Hampton said the announcement complemented the specific forest industries plan announced by the government last year.
Mr Hampton welcomed the appointment of Mr Pasin as chair, saying the MP was a “great advocate” of regionally-based forest industries.
The committee’s first meeting and the terms of reference will be determined in the near future.
