Election Greenslide: Farmers fear the Greens will declare war on climate change
Farmers are 'hoping like hell' they don't get caught up in the war on in the Greens' push for more ambitious emissions targets. The Greens have celebrated its best ever election result with at least three MPs elected and a record 12 representatives in the . The party wants to slash emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and hit net zero emissions by 2035, 15 years faster than newly-elected Labor's target. Farmers fear their livelihoods could become unviable and threaten food security under bold climate targets and are We need our economy firing, our businesses profitable and we need to remain absolutely export competitive. 'Anything that we do that detracts from those very simple goals will be shooting ourselves in the foot.' WA Farmers grains section president Mic Fels is cautiously optimistic but has concerns about a potential carbon tax. 'All that does is add cost to growers we need to drive tractors and use fertiliser and something like that just makes us less competitive and viable in the global market,' he said. The National Farmers Federation has called for more President Fiona Simson said the peak national body supported many elements of Labor's climate change policy but hopes it would support farmer by implementing positive sustainability and biodiversity outcomes in the agriculture landscape. 'Among the priority discussion points with the new Government, will be the representation of Australia's food, fibre and forestry interests at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference,' she said. A sensible approach to water management that delivered for communities, farmers and the environment was also a priority for the NFF. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to appoint a new agriculture minister to his new cabinet. Outgoing minister David Littleproud hoped Labor and the Greens will acknowledge farmers have 'done the heavy lifting already' and would leave them alone, The Greens insist farmers have no reason to fear about their plans for a net zero future. 'If we want to make sure that we have a climate in which farmers can continue to produce the food that we need, then we're going to need to make that transition more quickly than the government is proposing,' Senator Penny Allman-Payne told the . 'We also want to invest $250 million into a centre for research around creating green agricultural Australia as well as increasing transparency around free trade agreements to ensure farmers aren't disadvantaged,' Climate and environment policy was the number one issue in several key rural NSW seats at the election, according to the Farmers for Climate Action. In the seats of Gilmore, Page and Eden Monaro, more than 70 per cent of voters said 'effective climate change policies' were important to their vote. Chief executive Fiona Davis said the results proved country voters supported strong climate policy to reduce emissions and protect the farmers.