The new president of the National Farmers' Federation has launched a scathing attack on the Albanese government's farming policies in his first address in the job.
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In a speech to the federation's annual conference David Jochinke, who was elected to the position on Wednesday, slammed the government for "an avalanche of bad ideas that if seen through will see farmers walk off the land".
In his address in Canberra, the Victorian grain and livestock producer criticised the federal government for not making food and fibre production a central priority.
And he launched what he described as an unprecedented campaign against policies he said would drive farmers out of business, harm rural communities and push up the cost of living for everyday Australians.
Among the campaign's targets are water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin, the live sheep export ban, worker shortages, environment laws and land use conflict.
The new president highlighted legislation around water buybacks and "unworkable" industrial relations laws as two key frustrations for producers.
He singled out laws that he said would rewrite the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and shut down agricultural production.
"Once you shut down an irrigation farm, it doesn't come back," the new president said.
"They're trying to bulldoze through with a plan that will shut down farms, destroy jobs and increase the price of food."
Mr Jochinke said the basin plan legislation would cost 1500 jobs in small basin communities and $855 million a year in farm production.
But Agriculture Minister Murray Watt defended his government's record, denied the basin plan ignored the social impacts involved and rejected the prospect of forced buybacks.
He also stood up for his government's record on industrial relations.
"The government was elected on a platform of lifting wages and delivering more secure work - including for farm workers," Senator Watt told the farming conference.
"What is not true are claims that this will make it harder and more expensive for family farms to employ their workers."
The minister said he was surprised by the campaign and the claim that his government hadn't prioritised the sector.
Senator Watt also promoted his government's sustainable funding of biosecurity and growing Australia's agricultural trading markets as major wins for the industry.
Australian Associated Press
