Suicide Rates
Just two years after dairy deregulation, beyondblue provided the heartbreaking advice that a farmer was committing suicide every 4 days. Read More
Farmers across the Atherton Tableland dairy heartland are all too aware of this alarming statistic. Wool, sugar, tobacco and many other farmers have suffered at the hands of successive governments. Both Labor and the LNP have stripped away almost every protection mechanism that was put in place to encourage the growth and development of our agricultural sector. Fair pricing safeguards have been removed, making way for foreign processors and supermarket giants to ride roughshod over farmers.
We are the only farmers in the world without protection. Our shields and spears have been taken from us and we have been sent out to the battlefield of international trade like a crippled David without a sling shot up against the Goliath of competition.
The AusParty Roadmap for the Future includes the Emerald Creek Declaration, a document drafted by farmers for farmers. This includes actions to enshrine property rights, restore competition in the market place – forcing divestment of the supermarket giants - support farmers in trading relationships with agents and merchants, strengthen our borders to protect us from imported produce and associated pests and diseases and protect consumers from outrageous supermarket price mark-ups.
