Farm groups want carbon clarity

FARMING representative groups across Australia have weighed in to the carbon tax debate, with the WA Farmers Federation calling for federal government support for research into agriculture’s role in greenhouse gas mitigation.

WAFarmers says it is not in support of the carbon tax proposed by the Gillard government and is pushing its potential to be “a greater contributor to climate change solutions than it is a contributor to its causes”.

WAFarmers president Mike Norton said although WAFarmers did not support the current carbon tax model, the organisation recognised the reality of climate change and changing weather events.

“WAFarmers cannot support a proposal which lacks operational detail and one which, on what little we do know, appears to be shifting on a daily basis as the government attempts to manage a range of political, industry and community interests,” he said.

The National Farmers Federation has also expressed concern over the government’s emerging policy on carbon.

“It is sometimes misconstrued that because agriculture’s direct emissions are excluded from the government’s carbon pricing plans, the sector will be unaffected,” NFF president Jock Laurie said.

“The NFF is looking for firm, up-front assurances that the indirect cost impact of any carbon tax ... will not impinge on farmers’ competitiveness on the international markets on which they depend.”