Bill falls Short on Agriculture

Bill Shorten has shown Australians he has no vision for a cornerstone of the national economy, while addressing the National Press Club in Canberra.

 

Mr Shorten didn't mention agriculture once during his speech.

 

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud asked how anyone serious about leading Australia could ignore agriculture.

 

"I know all Labor's seats are in the city, but you'd think even Labor MPs would know their food comes from farmers," Mr Littleproud said.

 

"How can Bill Shorten forget farming? The man eats, doesn't he? Does Bill Shorten think food comes from the supermarket?

 

"No farmers, no food - and no economy either.

“Our farm sector was responsible for 20 per cent of Australia’s economic growth last financial year.

 

“We exported more than $53 billion dollars of Agricultural products in the past financial year, up more than $10 billion from when the Coalition came to power.

 

“The profits made by our farmers go back into communities across the country and into local business.

 

“Agriculture is also key to strengthening other industries such as transport and food processing.

 “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing employs more than 320,000 people in Australia, that’s almost 100,000 more than our mining sector.

 

"Bill Shorten's advisers could remind him of where food comes from."