Rudd pledges $10m to Simplot's vegetable growers

Kevin Rudd has pledged $10 million to help Simplot’s Tasmanian vegetable growers improve their competitiveness.

Federal Labor has promised to invest $10 million of federal funds and seek an additional $5 million from the Tasmanian Government and industry for Simplot’s growers as part of a reform program to make the local processing growers competitive once again.

AUSVEG, the peak industry body for the Australian vegetable and potato industries, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s promise. AUSVEG Public Affairs Manager William Churchill said the move will “set a standard for government, industry and business working together to propose new and better solutions”.

“Food processing in this country has been on a dramatic decline, and any support, whether monetary or policy based, is absolutely valued by Australian vegetable and potato growers,” Churchill said.

“We need to strengthen Australian food processing businesses to futureproof them to ensure Australia’s food security. The federal government’s pledge is a right step forward to achieving this goal.”

AUSVEG has urged all political parties to consider the Australian food processing industry’s future in their policies.

“Simply put, the future of this industry transcends politics,” said Churchill. “Whoever is elected on Saturday needs to commit themselves towards protecting the interests of Australian food manufacturing and ensuring that Australian farmers are kept on the land.”