THE Labor Government’s federal budget released yesterday has been generally regarded as underwhelming by ag sector groups, but delivered some positives for the grassfed beef industry in the form of funding to support border security, environmental protection, market access initiatives, and a national food security strategy.

Cattle Australia chief executive Chris Parker said despite the budget being underwhelming for agriculture, there were some silver linings that would provide positive outcomes in several key areas.

“Illegal boat arrivals on Australian shores are a potential pathway for pests and diseases to take hold on remote grazing properties on our northern coastline, and we have been calling on the Government to recognise this risk and provide increased funding for activities to prevent an incursion,” Dr Parker said.

“Biosecurity is critically important to market access, animal health, productivity, and food safety, and we are pleased to see the Government will provide $84.5 million over four years from 2025–26 to support Australia’s border security.

“Most importantly, $74.9 million of this will be spent in 2025–26 to address border and biosecurity threats from illegal fishing activities in Australia’s northern waters, including increasing the presence of the Australian Border Force and Australian Fisheries Management Authority in the region, and supporting prosecutions by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“Funding to upgrade the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to continue its biosecurity functions is also very good news for biosecurity preparedness and testing and research into exotic animal diseases.”

Protecting our environment

Recognition of the positive contribution of beef producers in managing and protecting the environment is also a key priority for CA, particularly in the lead up to the federal election, and Dr Parker said funding that supports producers’ efforts was vital to ensuring ongoing sustainability.

“As custodians of 50pc of Australia’s land mass, beef producers play an essential role in managing our unique environment and are integral to our nation’s environmental stewardship,” Dr Parker said.

“Australian beef producers are acutely aware of the risks and costs associated with managing our environment, last year spending $5.3 billion out of their own pockets to manage invasive plants, pests and diseases.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment of $11 million in 2025–26 to continue efforts to reduce the economic and environmental burden of established feral animals, pests and weeds, and look forward to learning more about the commitment of $200 million for the Saving Australia’s Bushland program, which will include providing better pest management and incentives for private land conservation.”

Market access, connectivity and a national food security strategy

“Market access and improved connectivity are vital to the prosperity of grass-fed beef producers and the communities in which they operate, and we endorse investments in these areas,” Dr Parker said.

“We also look forward to learning more about the National Food Security Strategy and working with Government and other agriculture industry stakeholders to develop a strategy that recognises the importance of Australia’s food and fibre producers, meets the needs of all Australian consumers, and ensures our place in the global market.”

NFF response

The National Farmers Federation said the Budget underscored how critical the upcoming election will be to deliver the key investments needed to secure and grow Australian agriculture in an increasingly uncertain environment.

National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said the budget was a chance for the Federal Government to back Australian agriculture and give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm.

“While we acknowledge some new funding targeting the sector – especially the $3.5 million for a National Food Security Strategy, a key election ask – the budget falls well short of the investment needed to unlock agriculture’s full potential,” Mr Jochinke said.

“Farmers are grappling with major geopolitical, environmental and societal shifts. We need a sharper focus from Government to ensure we keep farmers farming, and keep food affordable for Aussie families.

“As we shift into election gear, the NFF is strapped in and focused on the road ahead. We will make sure agriculture’s needs don’t fall off the back and into a pothole.”

Mr Jochinke said trade was a worthy focus for the agriculture portfolio, and showed the Government was listening to farmers’ increasing concerns about the changing trade environment.

The budget included $6.8m for international engagement and market access, as well as $20m for a Buy Australian campaign, but the NFF was disappointed the Murray-Darling Basin buybacks were again shrouded in secrecy.

“Yet again, the government hasn’t disclosed what buybacks are costing taxpayers.

“The government’s buyback program is being conducted behind closed doors, with no regard for the communities impacted nor for adhering to corporate best practice,” he said.

“Instead of investing sneaky millions – or billions – into damaging buybacks, we call on the government to redirect the funding into direct measures like eradicating carp or native fish breeding programs.”

Mr Jochinke said agriculture needed significant funding to eradicate pests and weeds.

“We welcome the focus on pest management in the budget, but it’s only a drop in the ocean of what farmers and the environment needs.”

The NFF provided 20 strategic investments to the government that would strengthen agriculture and the Australian economy and Mr Jochinke acknowledged funding for new and existing infrastructure and $2.9m to help fresh produce suppliers better negotiate with supermarkets.

But he said rural and regional areas needed billions more invested in fixing potholed rural roads.

“We need innovative approaches to stimulate regional housing and overcome workforce challenges.

We need major investment in our waterways and in ecosystem services to protect our environment,” Mr Jochinke said.

“With these game-changing investments missing from tonight’s budget, all eyes are now on the election. We need to see all parties step up to the plate and keep Aussie farmers farming.”

NSW Farmers warns of food production consequences

NSW Farmers said warned that farmers must not be left without the funding needed to put Aussie grown food on tables.

NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said poor infrastructure, telecommunications and biosecurity are just some of the challenges farmers will be left to face alone if federal funding is not increased.

“Billions have been promised to fix roads and rail in the cities, but we don’t know whether there will be any allocated to fix the roads, railways and bridges that are falling apart throughout the bush,” he said.

“Meanwhile, our telecommunications are in ruin and farmers are fighting a losing battle against a growing number of biosecurity threats.

“Promises to upgrade the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness and deliver $11 million to fight pests, weeds and feral animals are only a drop in the ocean, and we need much more funding to deliver a serious biosecurity regime that will defend our industry and assure our food security into the future,” Mr Martin said.

NSW Farmers said funding commitments to keep Rex Airlines afloat and regional bank branches open had come as welcome news for farmers, alongside commitments to drive competition reform, create a National Food Security Strategy and deliver cost of living relief for communities Australia wide.

However, Mr Martin warned more targeted investment in regional, remote and rural communities would be essential to ensure farmers could keep growing the Aussie food and fibre the nation needs.

“Investing in farming communities drives productivity and will deliver food security – and there’s no better investment you can make than that.

“Our government keeps talking about a future made in Australia, but how about a future grown in Australia?” he said.

“As we head to the polls, our politicians can’t forget the fact that people need fresh, Aussie grown food at fair prices.

“More than ever before, we need to keep our farmers farming.”

Underwhelming Federal Budget unveiled for Victorian farmers

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said while investments into rural childcare facilities and the commitment to develop a National Food Security Strategy are welcome, overall it’s an underwhelming budget for Victorian farmers.

“In this election year, we must see major investments into fixing our crumbling rural road network and ensuring there’s adequate resources to manage the renewable energy transition.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the Albanese Government’s budget has once again cut funding to regional, rural and remote Australians.

He said there is absolutely nothing in the budget for regional Australia, other than more cuts.

“Labor has no new funding for the Stronger Communities program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, Growing Regions program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership program, critical to building community infrastructure in regional Australia,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Labor has again deferred $190 million in funding for Paradise Dam, Hughenden Irrigation Scheme and Big Rocks Weir, while hiding the cost of its Murray-Darling Basin Plan.”

Mr Littleproud said Labor is obviously raiding what was left of regional community programs to pay for 41,000 new Canberra public servants.

“The budget has no money for extra childcare places or anything to fix a few roads or even a pothole in regional Australia.

“Even after being in Government for three years, the Albanese Government will spend less than one per cent of Labor’s infrastructure announcements in 2025-26,” he said.

“Regional Australians will not only bear the brunt of more infrastructure cuts, but have the extra burden of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Littleproud said Labor’s $150 energy rebate is a fraction of the cost of energy bills that have increased by up to $1300 since Labor came to government.

“The proposed 70 cents a day election bribe doesn’t come in until next year, while Labor continues to run away from fixing the fundamentals of what is driving cost-of-living pressures, that regional Australia can be the solution to.

“Key to this is a sensible energy policy, which in the short-term is flooding the market with Australian gas and in the long-term transitioning to nuclear energy, which is $263 billion cheaper than Labor’s all-renewables approach,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Under a future Coalition Government, regional Australia won’t just get its fair share of funding, it will also be the solution to solving the nation’s cost-of-living crisis.”