Citrus Australia has congratulated senator Joe Ludwig on his appointment as Australia’s minister for agriculture and set about briefing him on the industry’s key requirements.
“We look forward to working with minister Ludwig and the government’s renewed focus on regional Australia,” said Tania Chapman, chairperson of Citrus Australia.
Citrus Australia said it had provided the minister with a copy of its Federal Election Policy Statement, which highlights the important policy priorities in securing the ongoing viability of one of Australia’s largest fresh fruit industries.
Citrus remains one of the pillars of Australia’s fresh fruit exports, and the Policy Statement pinpoints key requirements for export market access and development as well as quarantine and biosecurity reforms.
With the drought conditions affecting key citrus growing areas of Australia in recent years, water is unsurprisingly a key issue addressed in the Policy Statement and in particular the proposed new Murray Darling Basin Plan. Also included are requirements for research and development, workplace relations, climate change and truth in labelling.
