BeefEx MC Peter van Onselen interviewing opposition leader Peter Dutton as part of a panel session.

FEDERAL opposition leader Peter Dutton says the industry needs to take the debate about its future by the collar to avoid a radical agenda dictating policy.

The opposition leader was part of a panel at this week’s BeefEx conference in Brisbane, which had a focus on the growing sustainability demands from the corporate and Government sectors.

On the back of a comment made by Nuffield Scholar Catherine Marriot who said the industry needs to be more proactive in telling its story and arming politicians with facts, Mr Dutton was asked for his thoughts on how the industry can communicate its message and stop reductionist policies.

He said the agricultural industry was in the same boat as the mining industry.

“They are two of major export industries, two very significant contributors to the overall productivity of the Australian economy and kids now for a generation are being told at school a very different story to one we have just heard through presentations,” Mr Dutton said.

“We are seeing companies with global shareholders, or listed entities, are coming into the marketplace and are less inclined to communicate the message because they are worried about shareholder activists, they are worried about financiers and they are worried about proxy voters at AGMs.

“I really think that industry needs to take this debate by the collar and drag it out into the public square to make sure they understand what is happening with the true facts. It shouldn’t be defined by a snapshot of drone footage.”

Mr Dutton said the industry needed to be getting itself in front of voters and politicians to get its story across.

“Unless you engage with schools and educators, thought leaders and politicians then I think it will be a slippery slope,” he said,

“Live sheep exports did everything they could to address any of the concerns. We have the highest standards in the world and that was not enough to negate the decisions that the Government ultimately made.”

The same panel session heard from NAPCo programs and innovation manager Darryl Savage, who spoke about the uncertainty created by constant changes in regulations – particularly with the carbon market.

Mr Dutton was asked whether he thought the prospect of a minority government forming at the next election with more Green power would present more risk to the industry. He said history says it would.

“The shopfront says it is all about the environment, but the reality is that it is about a more radical agenda,” he said.

“With their complete defiance of the rule of law and their complete disrespect for people that have a different ideology or outlook then they do, I think there is a quantifiable risk there.

“We have seen it in the Government’s actions with the closing down of the live sheep export industry, their business model is to continue on, they are never going to be satisfied. Their idea is to continue to advance the following they get on social media and the money that comes from the organisations that support them.”