Last week, on April 23, a Senate committee studied the potential impact of Labor's proposed fresh food tax, highlighting concerns about its repercussions such as increased cost-of-living and higher grocery prices.
Michelle Landry MP and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said the fresh food tax, which is due to be implemented on July 1, is as an attack on families and farmers throughout Dawson and in the Capricornia.
Mr Willcox said the biosecurity protection levy will force farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers.
“This Senate inquiry and its outcome is crucial because this new tax will impact almost every single family and approximately 1,500 farmers and farm managers in our electorate of Dawson,” Mr Willcox said.
“The new tax makes absolutely no sense. It will hurt families in our electorate, and right across Australia at a time they can least afford it and farmers who are already under pressure.
“Farmers will be forced to pass on costs, meaning families will feel more pain at the grocery checkout.
Mr Willcox questioned the proposal, stating “In what parallel universe would a government charge its own farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?”
Michelle Landry MP stands firm on the matter and said that every family and farmer deserved to feel angry that the fresh food tax had already been passed in the House of Representatives.
“The Nationals will continue to fight this senseless new tax,” Ms Landry said.
“We will fight for families and we will fight for farmers, especially when it comes to taxes that impact food prices.”
Nicholas Holland, a local grazier emphasised that farmers are already battling significant challenges and will now have to deal with another layer of bureaucracy hitting their bottom line.
“This Fresh Food Tax is unfair to Australian farmers. Why should we be forced to pay for the
biosecurity of international competitors?
“The levy will add another layer of pressure to our already tight margins, which inevitably
will force the producer to pass the cost onto consumers,” Mr Holland said.
