Fed: Kerry O'Brien says consultation with rural Aust vital

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2001
Fed: Kerry O'Brien says consultation with rural Aust vital

By Shane Wright

CANBERRA, Dec 13 AAP - Labor today promised consultation with rural communities and
proactive policies.

Federal Opposition primary industries spokesman Kerry O'Brien said he was already talking
to commodity groups as part of the process to find what rural areas want from the ALP.

Senator O'Brien, who replaces Gavan O'Connor who has been shifted to regional services,
said there was a diverse range of industries beneath the primary industries banner.

Getting viewpoints from those industries would be vital as Labor shaped its primary
industry policies in coming months.

"I think we will have to be pro-active in that area, but we aren't going to do that
without proper consultation with the industry sectors," he said.

"We don't want to come up with policies which are fine sounding but have practical
problems in implementation because we haven't fully understood where the industries are
coming from."

Senator O'Brien said the government had deserted the policy field in agriculture, instead
reacting to events rather than developing plans in consultation with industry.

He said government agriculture policy was more like a cobbled-together collection of
industry viewpoints rather than a considered position.

"I really think one thing that has categorised this government is it's failure to be
pro-active in terms of the interest of agriculture, they've been more reactive to problems
as they've occurred," he said.

"This government hasn't shown a lot of competency in terms of leading the agendas in
that regard."

Senator O'Brien would not be drawn on any policy ideas he might have, but said water
resources would be the overriding issue across primary industry for the next three years.

He said continuing questions over water resources, and the control of salinity, had
to be answered soon if all primary industries were to remain vibrant and strong.

Like a growing number of farming organisations, Senator O'Brien said the proposed free
trade agreement (FTA) with the United States could be dangerous for rural Australia.

He said Australia would have to make concessions on the agricultural front to the US
for an FTA to proceed which would not be welcomed by farmers.

"The FTA area with the US is possibly as problematic as any agreement," he said.

"It has possibilities for benefits, but equally it has possibilities for great problems."

AAP sw/daw/ph/br

KEYWORD: LABOR PRIMARY

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