Reported using a ‘star system’ the Scorecard is developed by overlaying the agricultural commitments announced by the major parties against the five ‘Policy Priority Areas’ of the NFF. The card follows an interim report released in early June and is the NFF’s final assessment of agricultural policies prior to the Election on Saturday.

The five Policy Priority Areas of the NFF this Election are:

·         Building a Stronger Workforce;

·         Supercharging Farm Business;

·         Leading the Global Marketplace;

·         Investing in Innovation and Technology; and

·         Balancing Farming and the Environment.

NFF President, Brent Finlay, said there had been some promising announcements made by the Coalition on mobile blackspots, water infrastructure and streamlined administration of farm loans, and by Labor in matching funding for blackspots, new innovation hubs and a re-commitment to the  Cooperative Research Centre model.

However, rural Australia remained seriously concerned about telecommunications and digital connectivity, the construction of the Inland Rail and the looming backpacker tax. 

“These are areas we know require bipartisan agreement on the policy settings and the long term investment to underscore permanent solutions that will lead to wide-reaching and significant increases in production efficiencies and to the sector’s ability to deliver substantial benefits to rural and regional communities and the economy,” Mr Finlay said.

“Concerningly, we have noted that the areas which have scored poorly are, in general terms, the same areas the parties scored weakly on in the 2013 Election Scorecard.

“Throughout this very long election campaign we have consistently sought to communicate just how great the opportunities for Australian agriculture are in the global marketplace and what this could mean, not only for the industry itself, but for all of Australia as it seeks to fill the gap left by the declining resources industry.

“We have outlined five key priority areas, with associated key policy and investment asks, that we know are required to help agriculture live up to its potential. On issues where there are key shortfalls, we will be encouraging the Government, whomever that may be after Saturday, to take a closer look with a view to developing long term, strategic and sustainable agricultural policy.

“Whatever the outcome of this election, the NFF stands ready to work with Government to provide advice and input at this time of unprecedented opportunity for the sector when it must be treated as a national economic and policy priority.”

·         For further detail and analysis of each of the major parties’ agricultural policy announcements and how they align with the NFF’s policy priorities go to www.AccelerateAg.com