HOLLY STEARNES [HOST]: Labor has announced a new funding package over the next three years aimed at improving safety on farms. Joining me live is Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Anthony Chisholm. Good afternoon, lovely to have your company. We'll get to the announcement in just a moment. First, though, I want to get your thoughts on David Littleproud. He's just spoken at the National Press Club. I'm not sure if you heard all of that addressed there, but he was taking aim essentially at your government's lack of support for farmers and ag more broadly. Do you have a response to that?
 
ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Absolutely and Mr. Littleproud's been spreading a lot of lies and misinformation over recent years, but this Albanese Government has delivered strongly for our farmers. You only have to look at what we've done on trade and particularly rebuilding our relationship with China, and what that has meant for our agricultural sector across a wide range of industries, and also what we've done in biosecurity as well, where we've properly funded that for the first time. So, Labor has a really proud track record when it comes to agriculture. We've had two fantastic Ministers in Senator Watt and more recently, Julie Collins. I've really enjoyed working with Julie and we have a strong track record when it comes to agriculture that we're really proud to highlight this side of the election.
 
STEARNES: Minister, what do you say to farmers who say they don't feel supported under a Labor Government? I've heard that firsthand. I went and visited a dairy farm in regional Victoria, and they basically said to me firsthand that they don't feel supported by Labor. There's too much red tape, whether that be at the farm gate, skill shortages as well. What do you say to those voters?
 
CHISHOLM: We know that there's challenging circumstances in the industry. I've been to regional Victoria and visited dairy farmers there myself. I get out and about as often as I can. I was on a cane farm in Ayr today. I get out there and listen because that's how you can pick up the challenges that people are facing, and we know that there are difficult conditions, but we're a Federal Government that's provided support, whether it has been for labour and having the tripartite working group ensuring that we can respond and get people into working in farms, whether it be those backpackers or whether it be those people coming in from the Pacific Islands that play such an important part in regional Australia. The work we've done on biosecurity to ensure that it's properly funded is important for so many in the industry, because Australia really relies on our clean and green image, because we export 70 per cent of our produce overseas. So, I think that we have a really good track record. Minister Collins and myself spend a lot of time out and about talking with farmers firsthand. That's our record and one that we're really proud of in government.
 
STEARNES: What are some of the concerns that those farmers have? I mean, when you go to their farms, it can't all be good. Not everyone's going to agree with what your government's doing. What are some of those concerns? And I guess, how do you convince them that you're the right government to lead them forward or lead them forward?
 
CHISHOLM: That's the great thing about what I've enjoyed about being the Assistant Minister, people will make time for you, but they'll tell you what's happening, and they'll give you an honest answer, and I'd expect nothing less of them. That's the only way, as a Federal Government, that we can improve and ensure that we're delivering outcomes that are going to make farms more productive, which is what we want. So, there's a good track record of what they've achieved in recent years. We want that to continue. That's why getting out and about listening but also delivering on what we said we would do is really important.
 
STEARNES: Okay, let's talk about this investment today on farm safety. Can you just tell us a little bit about that promise?
 
CHISHOLM: So, unfortunately, across the country, fatalities have been increasing, and injuries have been increasing on farms. Farmsafe Australia do an outstanding job, and Felicity Richards, the Chair, has done a great job, but they operate off a small budget. So, this $2.5 million investment over three years will amplify their opportunity to get out and about and sell that message about the importance of being safe on farms. Some of these are small operations run by a family, some of the larger, bigger commercial operations, but all of them have challenges. We want to ensure that everyone is taking safety seriously on farms, and any workplaces for that matter. So, our investment in Farmsafe will enhance the already good work they do and ensure that they can spread that message more powerfully across a wider range in the industry, and that everyone takes that safety message seriously.
 
STEARNES: Okay Anthony Chisholm, we do have to leave things there, but if you can just quickly sum up in a couple of words, how do you feel the campaign's going so far?
 
CHISHOLM: I've been really encouraged. I've been out on pre-poll across North Queensland the last couple of days. Earlier in the week I was around some of the Brisbane seats as well, and there is a really positive feeling. I think that the contrast between an Albanese Government and what we represent versus the cuts and chaos of a potential Dutton Government and what that would bring is really stark - that contrast in people's eyes as they come in to vote. So, I am hopeful that we'll continue to campaign strongly and have a good result on May 3.
 
STEARNES: Assistant Agriculture Minister, Anthony Chisholm, thank you so much for your time today. Great to see you.
 
CHISHOLM: Thanks Holly.