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Australian farmers progressively worried about federal government policy, poll finds

An increasing number of Australian farmers are dissatisfied with the government's climate and farming policies, a study revealed on Wednesday, as procedures to secure the environment draw farmers' ire in Europe and some other locations.

Australia is among the world's most significant agricultural exporters, delivering almost $50 billion worth of products as varied as beef, wheat and wine in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Given that concerning power in 2022, the country's Labor federal government has passed legislation that will ban exports of live sheep and limit using water for farming in some areas.

It has actually also sought to raise more cash from farmers for biosecurity and pressed ahead with renewable energy projects in backwoods, causing anger in the farming sector.

Seventy-three percent of 1,026 farmers surveyed throughout the country said federal government policies were hurting the industry, up from 54% a year ago, the poll by the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) and interactions agency Seftons found.

Eighty percent said the federal government did not understand or listen to farmers, up from 41% in 2015, with just 10% stating the federal government had a favorable plan to grow the farm sector.

Half of participants believed Australia's food and fibre production would increase over the next years, below 56% a. year earlier.

The results are unsurprising. Crucial concerns like the live. sheep export ban, biosecurity tax and water buybacks have. weighed heavily on farmers, said NFF President David Jochinke.

Farmers are annoyed, he stated. They feel they aren't. being heard and they are being steamrolled by damaging policies -. that appear to be driven by activist groups or politicians, not. farmers.

Previously this year, farmers in numerous European countries. staged protests over a range of concerns consisting of excessive. environmental rules.

(source: Reuters)