Wild dogs, shortening daylight saving and improving the renewable energy rollout were just some of agriculture’s hot topics up for debate as NSW Farmers returned for the final day of its 2024 Annual Conference.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said while Australia needed strong farms to feed the future, the sector was facing a wide range of challenges that delegates were keen to address – including how to minimise the impact of the renewable energy transition.
“Wild dogs are clearly an area of growing concern for industry, with delegates passing a motion that called on the state government to take urgent action against increasing wild dog and dingo attacks on livestock,” Mr Martin said.
“The energy transition is having a huge impact on our industry – and support to ensure fair, logical and equitable contracts with adequate compensation for farmers with renewable installations being constructed on their property was one of several solutions members supported today to ease the pain of this process.
“The protracted daylight saving period – which seems to get a couple of weeks longer every few years – was also debated, with delegates pointing out the huge difference in sunrises and sunsets between Sydney and Broken Hill.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty also announced the appointment of a permanent, independent Biosecurity Commissioner at yesterday’s Annual Conference, which Mr Martin welcomed as positive news for the state’s agricultural industry.
“As farmers face a battle on countless fronts against biosecurity threats, it’s never been more critical that we strengthen our biosecurity systems so we can protect our industry from the serious impacts pests, weeds and diseases present,” Mr Martin said.
“The appointment of Dr Marion Healy as our permanent, independent Biosecurity Commissioner is warmly welcomed, and we thank the Minns Government for delivering on this promise for our sector.”
Energy and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe also addressed delegates, revealing she had told her department to “do better” in the energy transition.
A number of other motions passed during event proceedings yesterday included motions in support of:
• Ground-truthing all Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) results
• Extending the Universal Service Obligation (USO) to cover voice and data
• Additional police resources to tackle rural crime
• Legalising the use of virtual fencing technology.
-NSW Farmers