OK, "lots and lots" was an overstatement from myself and exagerated. Fair enough that you question that WB.
I did not intend to suggest that agriculture gets enough subsidy already, or that farmers have it easy.
I do think it would be desireable to have more government investment in agriculture.
My uncle manages a fairly decently sized fruit farm in mid southern QLD, he is one of the hardest working and capable people I know, and yet, he certainly has his difficult years, yes indeed.
It particularly furrows my brow when stuff happens like overseas multinationals buy our canneries and then cite globalisation and economic rationalisation to move them offshore so the produce they sell is no longer local. Hienz buying Golden Circle and moving the beetroot cannery to NZ comes to mind.
But there is some subsidy, and some of this probably also goes to foriegn owned companies who hold leases on Australian properties and stations;
The farm finance loans (ok they are loans), Tax incentives for primary producers (ok not much, but a bit), Various fuel rebates, Drought assistance packages (again not enough but they are there, one is being considered now), Grants for agricultural greenhouse gas reduction trials, The Landcare program.
And theres a few others for various agricultural innovations available, I suppose it depends which agricultural industry one is involved in.
http://grantslink.gov.au/grants/gran...nk-search=true
I think it is important and desirable to provide agriculture with the support it gets, and more. Its just, I dont believe we, as a nation, can't afford these and car industry subsides as well.
I agree with you about the market restrictions WB, completely, (I called them tarrifs). I enjoy reading your posts, I find them interesting and informative. I am personally a bit touchy about this losing the Australian Automotive industry thing.
I disagreed with your point because I really dont want Australians to give up on this yet.
Greg Combet was talking on the ABC the other day in his new role as the manufacturing industry restructuring adviser (or whatever title they have given him). His comments on tarrif changes and free trade agreements back up what you said about import restrictions. Richard Marles, was also on, and said that the governments of countries choose whether or not to have a motor manufacturing industry and the Australian Government made a choice. However, remaining bi-partisan, in my opinion, the previous government also has to accept that their policies contributed to a situation which allowed that choice to be there by removing the tarriffs in the first place, as I noted earier in this thread.
I believe it is still possible to reverse the situation to some extent, but, it would take a change in government policy, and re-introduction of the tarrifs. Now that Toyota has decided to close I dont believe that a public fund to try and keep Holden manufacturing here will be nearly enough on its own. However, I will keep the facebook page I created open to see what (if anything) happens.
In the meanime keep on trucking (and farming)!
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks