This week the federal agriculture minister made her way to Leeton as part of her tour learning about her portfolio.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bridget McKenzie got a first hand tour of SunRice's production facilities and the issues facing growers from Ricegrowers Association.
For an ag minister this is a good first step and hopefully it means positive developments or at least, no changes which make life harder.
Ms McKenzie had plenty of positive things to say about agriculture and certainly about SunRice's operations and the committed growers who cultivate the crop.
SunRice and the MIA are only part of the nation's $60 billion agriculture industry, but if the goal is to grow it to $100 billion - our region should be prospering.
So it boils down to water.
Our general security irrigators didn't plant as much rice in their paddocks this year and there's plenty worried next year will be the same if there's no significant rain.
Considering there's a drought, it's more than likely growers will be in for another tight year of counting their pennies and asking whether it's better to grow anything or just trade their water temporarily.
Unfortunately with four federal ministers and then three states involved with the Murray Darling Basin Plan, so it's more than likely a few irrigators have already made their mind up about which crops are going to be planted next season.
The other aspect of the agriculture minister's visit is political.
While the federal government has secured another term, there's no guarantee that they will be a fourth Coalition term.
There's also the state results which are probably weighing on the collective mind of the Nationals.
In 2018, the Victorian Nationals lost two seats following their state election, and the NSW branch lost Murray and Barwon in March
Federal ministers and parliamentarians can talk up the difference between state and federal issues, but taking that view is more likely to give Helen Dalton and Roy Butler the opportunity to consolidate their hold on their seats.
If the Nationals wants to continue being considered representatives of regional Australia they have a fair bit of work ahead of them and voters will expect more than tours of paddocks and factories before entrusting them with the responsibilities they seek.
