The cost of living and grocery prices are set to rise after Labor’s fresh food tax passed the House of Representatives, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says.

Labor’s new ‘biosecurity protection levy’ forces farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers they are competing against.

“In what parallel universe would a government charge its own farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?” Dr Webster said.

“Labor is driving up the cost of farming in Australia and hurting families at the supermarket checkout.”

Dr Webster said the agriculture industry is worth $80 billion to the nation, yet Labor raids farmers like a proverbial piggy bank to boost Government general coffers not targeted to biosecurity measures.

“Labor’s callous treatment of the agriculture industry and farmers is a disgrace,” Dr Webster said.

Labor evidenced their disregard for farmers was shown by the Government holding the debate for the Fresh Food Tax in Parliament’s Federation Chamber instead of the House of Representatives.

“Only three Labor politicians bothered speaking in the debate, demonstrating ‘country Labor’ is a fallacy. By contrast, 20 Coalition speakers stood up for Australia’s farmers,” Dr Webster said.

“The Nationals represents our regions and our farmers and stands up to a city-centric Labor Government that robs regions to buy votes in the city.

“On Labor’s watch, Australia has lost more than 15 per cent of its farmland in the past 30 years with more to be lost to the Albanese Government’s anti-agricultural policies such as huge transmission lines, a proliferation of wind turbines, a smothering of solar panels, water buybacks and the latest instalment of a fresh food tax.

“Only the Nationals in a Coalition Government will support our farmers and improve agricultural productivity.”