NSW Labor will introduce two bills to establish a full-time independent Agriculture Commissioner and a full-time independent Dairy and Fresh Food Commissioner in NSW with statutory powers.
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Labor's move to protect farmers and the wider agricultural sector stands in stark contrast to the Nationals who have spent the last week selling out farmers across rural and regional NSW.
The Deputy Premier and the Agriculture Minister launched scathing attacks on the NSW Farmers and the CWA for asking for assistance to deal with the mouse plague which has been going for over five months,
The Nationals and Liberals voted with the Animal Justice Party against a recommendation giving the Dairy Advocate statutory powers separate to the Department of Primary Industries in the NSW Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 4 -Industry report into the long-term sustainability of the dairy industry in NSW.
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Jenny Aitchison said that two days ago, NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said he couldn't throw money at the mouse plague. "Today he's finally come up with a package which will take weeks to get off the ground," she said.
"Now the Nationals are voting with the Animal Justice Party against an independent advocate for the dairy industry.
"It is extraordinary to see the NSW Nationals and Liberals voting with the Animal Justice Party against the wishes of the dairy industry around having an independent voice for Dairy, who knows what's next?"
Committee Member the Hon Peter Primrose MLC said it was extraordinary so see the Nationals voting to gag farmers with the Animal Justice Party, who have said that the dairy industry is simply not sustainable.
The Upper House inquiry into the Long-term sustainability of the dairy industry in NSW was self-referred on December 3, 2019 and received 81 submissions.