By KATRINA BRANDON
NATIONALS Leader and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud joined Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester in Traralgon last Tuesday (October 1).
Mr Littleproud was here on a two-day regional tour stopping in the Latrobe Valley, Maffra, Sale and Bairnsdale.
During the tour, he spoke to local dairy farmers, vegetable growers and primary producers about policies ahead of the next federal election, as well as highlighting regional concerns and opportunities.
Speaking at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Mr Littleproud stated his intention to run for Deputy Prime Minister or Agriculture Minister at the next election.
Pending a Coalition victory, Mr Littleproud’s plan going into office is to reinstate the live sheep industry and ensure a sensible water policy.
Mr Littleproud also hoped to move towards an energy-mixed future containing renewables and nuclear.
“We want an energy mix, and that includes renewables,” he said.
“Renewable energy should be placed in an environment that it can’t destroy, destroying food security and the natural environment, but the community should have a say. Nearly 80 per cent of those working out here at the coal-fired power station will have jobs in the power plant. We want to give them a future,” he said.
“Yes, some people are against it (nuclear), but the majority believe that this is a good way to get us good, affordable, reliable power, reduce our emissions at the same time, and ensure that we have a manufacturing sector that could be attracted to this side of the world because you have that baseline power.”
Mr Littleproud told the Express that the federal government’s aim to be net zero was “reckless” and pushing costs on Australians. He said the path to net zero emissions was linear and he would announce the cost in the upcoming months.
Recently, supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have been under fire for raising prices in a cost-of-living crisis. To address the issue, Mr Littleproud said he would ensure there was harsher penalty which guaranteed businesses wouldn’t ramp up prices unnecessarily.
“Unfortunately, this Prime Minister is out of touch, he is tone deaf, and he is letting Australians down in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Littleproud said.
“He was prepared to stand up to the big energy company CEOs and fight for invested power, but when there are Australians tonight that can’t afford dinner, he is not prepared to take on Coles and Woolworths in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and have a deterrent.
“Regional Australia has had a rough deal. The Prime Minister on election night said no one held back and no one left behind. That is unless you live in regional Australia, whether it be infrastructure or it be agriculture.”
