Farmers Association Conference Guides Government
Working with government
This week Greg attended a most interesting conference.
The wide-ranging agenda of the NSW Farmers Association 2024 Annual Conference was testimony to the benefit of polite, vigorous debate. It covered broad and narrow topics affecting Australia’s food production and regional residents.
The conference ran under the skilled chairmanship of President Xavier Martin with addresses by the NSW Premier and Energy minister. There were hundreds of delegates of farmer branches spread widely throughout NSW. They gave serious consideration to the topics of most interest to their local members. Their decisions will affect communities small and large. Most are involved in our productive and profitable food and fibre sector catering to local consumption and export. A major concern they have is how to keep that food and fibre as inexpensive as possible for Australian consumers.
People and the environment
Of prime importance was their commitment to environmental protection and climate change action in conjunction with government agencies.
Regional delegates pressed for more facilities like health care and education equivalent to that provided in capital cities. However they know that their rural cities and towns have many advantages over Sydney. . The massive high-rise towers where families live like battery hens vulnerable to building failure and fire and denied fresh air, are unknown inland. Nice homes on big blocks of land or farms give children safe places to play under watchful eyes of parents. They enjoy road rail and air access plus internet connection to Sydney and the world. Rural and regional life inland has a lot going for it, particularly for young Aussie families.
The farmer delegates sought far better educational opportunities in public schools. They want the agriculture courses so well provide in Sydney by independent schools to be available in rural public high schools. Delegates want young farmers to learn the latest techniques and strategies for sustainable farming.
Australia is much more than capital cities
The farmers brought with them the truly Australian experience of life in the real world of wide-open spaces. They enjoy abundant wildlife, animals and birds rarely seen in our somewhat artificial capital cities. These farmer delegates are down-to-earth representatives of the families who have seen the benefits of low population numbers. They have raised their families to enjoy all that Australia offers. Young Sydney-siders who have moved inland rarely wish to return to Sydney.
The conference also gives city people a chance to see that the people from “the Bush” are just as happy, friendly and hard-working as they are themselves. It reminds us that when we holiday we have a vast array of interesting sites and treasures to see. Many can be visited from farm-stay accommodation and camp sites in magnificent national parks.
Pathway to Parliament
The NSW Farmers Association is the highly effective pathway to parliament for the farming community. Parliament is the body that guides government decisions and services. The association has served its members long and well with members attuned to the benefits of their inexpensive membership fees. Those fees give them an effective way to guide government that could otherwise be very city-focussed.