Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed news that a Federal taskforce will visit Goulburn on a tour of regional towns and cities to hear from farmers about agricultural reform.

Mr Taylor said the taskforce was inviting feedback on the Government’s White Paper on Agricultural Competitiveness and would be an important way for Hume producers to have their opinions heard.

“This is a chance for local growers and producers, businesses and community groups tied to the land, to contribute to real reform in agriculture and shape our future competitiveness,” Mr Taylor said.

“Coming from a background of rural politics and as a wool grower and beef producer myself, I am keen for our district to play an integral role in informing agricultural policy.

“I have strong ideas on ramping up competitiveness in the sector – more infrastructure investment to improve supply chains, smarter targeting of bilateral trade deals to benefit our best exporters, better coordination of national R&D programs.

“Scarcity of land and water resources across Asia means we are perfectly positioned to become the food bowl for our northern neighbours. Into Asia, we have the opportunity to more than double the value of our annual agricultural exports by 2050.”

Mr Taylor called on Hume farmers, rural businesses and community leaders to take the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the taskforce as it comes through the region. He encouraged anyone involved in agriculture to make a submission to the White Paper on Agricultural Competitiveness via the department’s website at: http://www.agriculturalcompetitiveness.dpmc.gov.au/