Plant Science Industry Welcomes Appointment of New Federal Ministry

    20 July 2016

    CropLife Australia, as the peak national organisation for the plant science sector, has welcomed the appointment of the new federal ministry today, and particularly the reappointment of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Barnaby Joyce, as Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston as his Assistant Minister, so that continuity in the portfolio is maintained and priority issues such as agvetchem regulatory reform can be implemented.

    Matthew Cossey, CropLife Australia Chief Executive Officer, today said “We welcome back Barnaby Joyce as Agriculture and Water Resources Minister, as well as the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, both passionate supporters of Australian agriculture.”

    “We look forward to seeing the Minister and the Assistant Minister building on the important work of the last term and bringing to fruition the range of important measures in the regulatory efficiency areas that were not finalised in the previous Parliament.”

    “The plant science industry considers a number of these measures to be imperative to the future success of Australia’s agricultural sector. First and foremost is delivery of an agvetchem regulatory reform agenda that provides genuine efficiency in the operations of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA) registration system and ensures farmer access to crucial innovation.”

    “It is disappointing that an efficiency package was unable to be delivered during the previous Parliament, however, the work done to date should make possible a package that has full industry support being able to be delivered within the first 12 months of this new Government,” said Mr Cossey.

    “Fully delivering the Agricultural White Paper’s $20.4 million commitment to agvetchem regulatory reform is now more important than ever. A significant proportion of the allocation needs to go directly to the APVMA to fund some of their specific efficiency initiatives that require resourcing.”

    “We also congratulate Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash on her reappointment to the Employment Portfolio and her genuine commitment to the removal of unnecessary government red tape.  The assurance of consistency in Ministerial leadership will certainly assist in ensuring the reinstatement of the standing of the APVMA labelling system within the Safe Work Australia regulations and removal of unnecessary, costly and confusing duplicative labelling regulation.”

    “We also welcome the Hon. Greg Hunt on his appointment as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. This is a crucial role for the plant science industry – the primacy of science in public policy has never been more important.”

    “As an agricultural sector we are passionate about strong rural regions and are very pleased to see Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash keep the Regional Development portfolio. Likewise we are pleased to see Dr David Gillespie in the equally important role of Assistant Minister for Rural Health.”

    “We are confident that the plant science industry and Australian agriculture more broadly is well served by the level of Ministerial continuity and Ministers whom are passionate and dedicated to the future success of such an important sector for Australia’s economy and food security,” concluded Mr Cossey.