Bob Katter

FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has welcomed key elements of the opposition's budget reply speech, particularly the commitment to a reserve resource policy (RRP)—a policy Katter has championed for over 15 years. The policy works to ensure a percentage of Australia's natural resources, in this case, gas, are reserved for domestic use before being exported. It is designed to safeguard Australia's energy security, lower domestic prices, and prioritise Australian industry. While acknowledging the opposition's move towards protecting the nation's natural wealth, Mr Katter also praised the Albanese government's commitment to regional infrastructure. "We praise the prime minister for committing to the great inland highway, and we thank the opposition leader for the RRP, which we've been screaming for—for more than 20 years," Mr Katter said. "We ask questions in parliament, and these questions stay in their memory bank," Mr Katter said. "The opportunity has arisen for him [Dutton] to act upon those questions. "I hope it is more than me preaching for RRP, but I'm not sure if I've ever heard anyone else preaching for it," Mr Katter remarked. For nearly two decades, Mr Katter has been a sustained and lone voice in the parliament pushing for a reserve resource policy after being part of the inner-power group in the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen government, which implemented a similar policy and saw Queensland's development proposer and household electricity bills remain stable. "Queensland's (former) reserve resource policy meant most of the state's electricity was coming from the world's biggest power stations and had zero input costs – the coal was free, taken by law, by the government under the RRP," Mr Katter explained. With Australia paying up to $16 a unit for its gas, while countries like the United States paid about $6 a unit, Mr Katter said the nation "could not compete" in manufacturing – a key influence in rising cost-of-living pressures. "Gas prices threaten the entire existence of industry in Australia. With the grim outlook for coal and all mineral processing – Australia is looking down the barrel of 200,000 jobs vanishing and, within three years, a plateau of the iron ore industry. "The outlook is as barren as the middle of the Simpson Desert. "And until now, governments (past and present) would rather export our resources, sell off our assets and let foreign companies prosper, rather than implement a reserve resource policy and retain our assets; which would reduce the ever increasing costs of living," said Mr Katter. "But let's see if the LNP are serious about this or not, or if it is just another 'polly promise' on election eve." ENDS

FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has praised the efforts of government services and community groups in reducing the rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and rheumatic fever by half in the First Australian populations of Mornington Island, Doomadgee and Mount Isa. “While this is a fantastic outcome moving towards closing the gap, we need to do more; we need to get back to the basics with people having access to fresh fruit and vegetables,” he said. “When I was minister for Aboriginal affairs in the Queensland Government, communities had market gardens so every family could access fruit and vegetables without paying premium prices for freighting it from down south. “People in the community were taught and paid to manage these market gardens and the whole community benefited,” Mr Katter said. First Nations Health executive director Christine Mann said a partnership with Orange Sky to provide access to clean linen and clothing has reduced the incidence of scabies, sores and infected skin conditions and North West HHS have recorded a decrease in RHD in First Australian communities. The project also includes training health workers, clinicians and community members in the risks and signs of RHD. Ms Mann is also proud of fostering a culturally inclusive and safe health service. “We are fortunate to have dedicated First Nations staff that exceeds the national target by three times, with First Nations people currently representing 10 percent of our workforce who work tirelessly to shape solutions to provide services that work towards closing the gap. “Having a strong and well-represented First Nations workforce, that is complemented by skilled and passionate clinicians and health service support staff, is a solid way we can enhance the accessibility of the health service, ensure culturally safe health care and improve patient experience for First Nations,” Ms Mann said. ENDS

FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has voiced strong opposition to the proposed listing of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), highlighting its vital role in Australia's beef industry, urging the government to abandon the proposed listing. "Buffel grass wasn't brought here by accident – it was introduced because it's one of the best options we've got. It holds the soil together and keeps the cattle fed even during drought," Mr Katter explained. "The Gulf and Peninsula were built on buffel, Brahman, and bitumen." A WoNS listing could impose legislative restrictions, mandate removal efforts, and initiate biological control research aimed at eradication. Such measures threaten one of Australia's most vital pasture species, which underpins the livelihoods of countless Aussie farmers and sustains production of beef that is essential for domestic and international food security. "Buffel grass is essential to the northern cattle industry, and to label it as a weed would be counter-intuitive, turning all of the North into a weed-infested dust bowl," Mr Katter emphasised. Talk to any northern cattle farmer and they will tell you it is not just good cattle fed, buffel grass protects soil, cools the ground, sequesters carbon, and supports native fauna. Its deep-rooted resilience has dramatically improved rainwater efficiency and environmental sustainability across Australia. "Buffel grass is not some noxious weed—it's an improved pasture grass. It holds the soil together, soaks up the rain, and has improved sustainability while reducing erosion," Katter said. "Meanwhile, terrible invasive species like lantana, prickly acacia, rubber vine, and feral cats and pigs, should be demanding our attention. Why on earth are we wasting our time even talking about this?" Mr Katter criticised the narrative surrounding buffel grass as being rooted in anti-livestock ideology rather than genuine environmental concern. "Rural and regional Australia will not survive without an effective, improved pasture—buffel is the best pasture grass we've got, and anyone saying otherwise needs their head read," Katter declared. KAP Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said the federal government's consideration of adding buffel grass to the WoNS registry, a move driven by ideologically-motivated environmentalists, was extremely misguided. "These people are fools - they can't be bothered to take consequential action on the myriad of extremely serious weeds and pests that are destroying Australia's native ecosystem, and yet they want to pursue this," he said. "The fact remains that we have to feed our nation and, buffel grass, for what limited environmental risk it poses, is one of our best performing pastures and one that underpins the entire northern beef industry. "The need to be able to deliver on our food production demands leaves for dead any perceived environmental risks buffel grass poses. "Sometimes you have got to wonder if these 'green' groups, whose bidding the government is doing here, won't stop until our entire agricultural industry is dead and we import everything into this country." AgForce Queensland Cattle President Lloyd Hick said, "This is not an isolated issue. It is part of a broader pattern of decisions being made without industry input, with disastrous consequences for agriculture and Australia. If the beef sector does not push back hard on this, it will be taken as a win and another critical pillar targeted next. "Producers are increasingly frustrated as time and energy that should go into food production is spent pushing back against agenda-driven ideas and re-educating city-based decision makers who think they understand the land—but don't." ENDS

Katter's Australian Party Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, has issued a critical response to the 2025 Federal Budget, highlighting serious concerns about its lack of proactive infrastructure planning, onerous regulatory overreach, and obvious lack of investment in agriculture and mining industries. "The 2025 Budget reveals a government more focused on reactive policies rather than proactively addressing the needs of our nation. "Our agriculture and mining sector is the backbone of our country's economic growth and prosperity. "But it is clear that the country is nothing more than a quarrying nation. Its income comes from iron ore, coal, bauxite, silicon – none are processed. We are giving our most vital resources to foreign landlords while shutting down our most lucrative industry: coal," said Mr Katter. Supermarkets $38.8 million has been allocated for a crackdown on misleading and deceptive pricing and $2.9 million to support suppliers to enforce their rights under the grocery code of conduct. "I can't see these measures providing any of the real significant reform that we need to break the duopoly and make the supermarkets more accountable to the Australian public," Mr Katter said. "Already, the Australian supermarket sector is seen as the most profitable in the world. They are making these profits from heartache, equally experienced by both consumers and suppliers. We need real and significant reform which includes forced and mandatory divestiture, a maximum 100% markup and removal of all onerous regulation imposed on suppliers. "Government is also proposing to reduce the cost of 30 essential products in remote First Australian communities. However, not one cent is being provided to allow these communities to become self-sufficient through the restoration of market gardens. "Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you'll feed him for life." Government needs to learn from the parable." Bank charges and scams The Budget proposes to remove unfair, excessive credit card surcharges, ban debit card surcharges, and provide $6.7 million for anti-scam support. "This measure may be applauded, but to really protect the Australian consumer, we need continued and guaranteed access to, and acceptance of, cash. Further, banks should be required to repay consumers that have fallen victim to scams." Critical minerals and mining Katter voiced strong opposition to the federal government's approach to critical minerals, noting its obvious omission from the key budget documents. "The "Future Made in Australia" has been hijacked by the "Wokie Greens" as a "junket" for costly renewables," he said. "The critical minerals sector is a strategic asset for this country, and yet the government is sitting on its backside while promising that we'll be swimming in wealth. We'll be drowning in foreign ownership and green tape. "The so-called 'use it or lose it' legislation is needed to address the bottlenecks in mineral extraction, but the reality is that new mines are being held to ransom by unnecessary regulations. "Significant investment is required to ensure Mount Isa remains the industrial and service hub of the NW Minerals Province. This Budget lacks that detail," Mr Katter said. "And coal should not be regarded as a dirty word but instead be seen as a cheap and reliable energy solution to provide for Australia's wealth and economic generation for many years to come. "We make no apologies for being the black warriors. Coal is King." Infrastructure: reactive, not proactive "Look at the state of our infrastructure: we are reacting to problems as they come up, rather than planning ahead," Katter said. "If we are truly serious about the future, we need to focus on proactive infrastructure." Mr Katter also highlighted the need for crucial infrastructure projects, including: Bridle Track Tunnel Fast track CopperString (transmission line connecting Townsville to Mount Isa) Inland highways from the Atherton Tablelands to the mid-west Bruce Highway – the Seymour and Gairloch Bridge HIPCo (Hughenden Irrigation Project Corporation) as a template for Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Doomadgee and Burketown Diversion of the Upper Herbert Reuben Richardson's pump storage project Maintenance and upgrades to key roads and rail lines As stated above, funds are urgently needed for all-weather access roads in key areas to support emergency management and regional development. In response to Mr Katter's question in Question Time, the Prime Minister confirmed that $17 billion was allocated for the Bruce Highway, and another $97.3 million for the completion of the Kennedy Development Road (between the Lynd and Hughenden section of the Great Inland Highway). "When the Bruce Highway was cut off at the Ollera Creek Bridge, transport and freight came to a halt. Communities north of Townsville were cut off for nearly three weeks and an area that produced 15 percent of Australia's fruit and vegetables were unable to get to market. The supply chain was seriously impacted, and it was felt around the country," Mr Katter said. "What is not clear in the Budget is where this $17 billion will be allocated. Since November 2021, $40 million has been allocated for the Gairloch and Seymour areas, yet no construction has started. "Construction of the Bridle Track Tunnel, which will provide emergency evacuation for Cairns and the surrounds must be a priority and connecting the Great Inland Highway (Lynd to Charters Towers section), and key roads like the Bruce Highway at Seymour and Gairloch must also be fast-tracked to ensure our industries remain uninterrupted. "Every time we see a heavy rain depression, Townsville and Ingham are subject to flooding. It is time we introduce flood diversion measures for the Upper Herbert and Ross Rivers to reduce downstream impacts. "These are just a few of the projects that could provide long-term economic stability for the country. Instead, we're stuck with a Federal Budget that is playing catchup rather than laying the foundations for a prosperous future," Mr Katter added. Transport "$130 million in loans for Rex Airlines is the last thing we need in rural Australia after decades of overpricing and unreliability. This loan was required because Rex (like others before them) arguably abandoned rural Australia for more profitable routes. "What's needed is a government owned, rural focused airline that provides connectivity between very remote locations and their administrative centres. These tickets should be subsidised by government to a price equivalent to the public transport subsidies in Brisbane." Fuel and energy "$150 wiped from a family's power bill for the second half of this year" is a shortsighted vote grab," Mr Katter said. "And a further $8 billion has been allocated for renewables and low emission projects. "However, these measures do not acknowledge that the most cost-effective and reliable power source is still from coal-fired power generation. "We need real measures to reduce the cost of electricity, and investment and upgrade rather than the shutdown of our coal fired power stations. To ensure that Australians can have continued access to cheap, reliable power, we cannot afford the extravagance of renewables," Mr Katter said. "For fuel, we need a serious plan for Australia to become self-sufficient in fuel. We have all the natural resources to rival the most self-sufficient fuel resources in the world – 10 hectares of cane produces 10,000 litres of fuel that we could use in our cars (ethanol). Yet we are almost solely dependent on fuel imports. Even our fuel reserves are stored in America." Health & rural communities GPs have seen an $8.5 billion injection to ensure visits across the country continue to be bulk billed. In response to health announcements, Mr Katter pointed to the government's failure to adequately address the needs of rural communities. "The government has failed to significantly address the shortage of GPs in rural and regional areas, and their approach to pharmacy regulations will only make it harder for rural Australians to access the medications and services they need. "A lot of these measures, whilst effective in metropolitan areas, will do little to address the current health crisis due to the lack of healthcare workers in regional Australia. "We also need a national cap on pharmacy ownership and, where appropriate, the roll out of accreditation for issuing of repeat scripts." Additionally, Mr Katter stressed the importance of supporting First Australian communities with better nutritional standards, focusing on developing local market gardens to provide fresh produce. Housing Katter also took issue with the government's approach to housing, calling for the removal of land restrictions in non-metropolitan areas to encourage growth and alleviate pressure on urban centres. "Whilst this measure has been noted in repeated budgets, all housing development is still hamstrung by onerous regulatory oversight, making housing unaffordable and out of reach for everyday Australian families. "It is noted that $120 million has been provided for the national productivity fund to remove red tape relating to modern construction, but this does not go far enough to address excessive regulations imposed by the three layers of government that are prohibiting the release of land and substantially increasing the cost of building. "The proposal to ban foreign buyers from buying existing dwellings for two years, and to target land banking by foreigners is applauded, however, the question should be asked, as to whether or not this will increase the market competition for new builds." Family tax reforms & corporate accountability On tax, Katter emphasised the need for income splitting to support families and called for an abolition of current immigration policy. Income splitting would allow families with parents of differing wages to split their high wage for tax purposes so that less overall tax is paid by families. "We must abolish immigration and start again. "Government should be using the monies spent on supporting immigrants to instead support Australian families by providing $20,000 per child per year to their primary carer/s," he stated. Katter also proposed the abolition of ASIC, arguing that corporate oversight should be handed over to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with stronger penalties for corporate wrongdoers and proven law enforcement capabilities. "Corporate rogues must be stopped and prohibited from reforming," said Mr Katter. Emergency management In terms of emergency management, Katter called for a portion of the $6 billion in annual GST revenue from insurance to be specifically quarantined for infrastructure projects that reduce flood risks and allow for relief and recovery. "Raising, sealing, and widening roads, as well as building new roads to connect Cairns to the Tablelands, as well as flood-proofing the Bruce Highway are crucial investments in disaster mitigation. "The Government also needs to address the shortfalls with the Cyclone Reinsurance Pool that has left premiums in northern Australia four times the amount the southern cities pay. This is grossly unfair particularly as the Pool may now be completely absorbed by those impacted by the recent cyclone in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales." Telecommunications Katter also acknowledged the government's commitment to the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) for mobile phones in regional and remote Australia but warned that while it's a step in the right direction, the policy only covers emergency calls (000) and basic voice calls, not data or streaming. "This is fine for emergencies, but it falls short for businesses, schools, and communities that rely on robust connectivity including data for everyday communication and economic activity," he said. Fun and freedom The beer tax has been frozen for two years from August 2025. "This will assist many of the fabulous brewers and publicans that we have in the north and restore our sovereign rights to enjoy a beer at the pub without sinking all your hard earned," Mr Katter said. Summary In response to the 2025 Budget, Mr Katter said he was once again left with little faith the country would return to its nation-building potential in any foreseeable future. Instead, the Budget is a mix of band-aid and tokenistic solutions that will do little to generate the real wealth that our nation needs. "It spends billions on tokenistic, "Wokie Green" causes - squandering the nation's wealth and stopping job creation.  "It is clearly an anti-development anti-jobs agenda, with no mines and no agricultural consideration, whatsoever. "This budget is full of metro lollipops and its only outcome is decay." ENDS

Bob Katter has welcomed the prime minister's decision to freeze the beer excise, which currently increases biannually, but says this is a temporary fix and doesn't go far enough to support consumers and hospitality venues. "People are paying through the nose for a simple beer at the pub," Katter explained. “Let’s call it what it is – double-dipping. The government is slugging people who’ve already paid tax on their hard-earned wages, and now they’re taxed again just to enjoy a cold one with their mates. "This freeze is a start, but it's a band-aid on a bullet wound. A tax that has gone up more than 80 times in 40 years? We’re talking about the third highest beer tax in the world! "I mean, let's just think about the flow on effects here," Katter said. "People are working longer hours, they're going out less, absorbed in technology more than ever – let me tell you now – this story doesn't end well for any of us. "This is about more than alcohol access. The pub is where you take a load off alongside your fellow man, whether he lives modestly or he's a millionaire. Seated on a stool at a bar, we are all the same. "Small pubs are the heart of these regional towns and communities, and are closing every single week. And on that figure, I do not exaggerate. Meanwhile, this year Canberra will cash in to the tune of $8 billion from alcohol tax alone. Mr Katter called on the prime minister to take long term action and respond to the concerns of the hospitality sector. "The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and the Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) have put forward sensible solutions – a fair go for pubs, clubs, and their workers. It’s time for a review. We need the government to say where they stand on this," Katter said. Paul Grover, owner of the Silkwood Hotel, believes the freeze should be on all alcohol, not just beer. “They call it an excise, but strip it down and it’s a tax,” Mr Grover said. “Alcohol is alcohol and not everyone drinks beer. This is like taxing someone differently depending on the colour car they drive. It doesn’t make sense. “When GST was brought in, they assured us that no tax would be taxed again but here we are. “We’re getting less and less people through the door. If that’s not sending alarm bells to the government that they’re killing an industry then I don’t know what will. Mr Grover believes the live music industry is also at stake. “Even the biggest names at one time played in smaller venues, and if the government keeps killing our pubs, there will be nowhere for up-and-coming acts to perform. So, without that avenue you can say goodbye to local talent. “Every way we turn it’s getting harder and harder to keep the doors open,” Mr Grover said. “Wages are going up, plus increases to the super percentage, and now electricity is going up too. “It’s hard not to feel like small business is being shafted by the government and it’s just wrong.” ENDS

Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, together with Hinchinbrook MP, Nick Dametto, has today welcomed the activation of Category D Disaster Recovery Grants of up to $75,000 for impacted farmers following the devastating North Queensland floods, attributing full thanks to the sheer determination and unrelenting fight of local leaders and industry champions. More than $50 million in extraordinary disaster recovery packages were also announced to support North Queensland’s recovery, jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The package includes increased grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers, $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits, as well as funding for councils and community facilities across the region to assist with clean-up, repairs, and long-term reconstruction. At a press conference in Ingham today, Mr Katter extended his heartfelt thanks to the dedicated locals who refused to take no for an answer. “I want to thank Leah Russo, Grower Director with Canegrowers, for her tireless advocacy and sharp focus on what her growers needed,” he said. “Shane McCarthy, President of AgForce Queensland, was relentless in keeping the pressure on and making sure the voice of agriculture couldn’t be ignored. “Lawrence Di Bella, QCAR Herbert District Manager, provided firsthand evidence of the destruction and losses, making the case for support undeniable. “And I pay special tribute to Robert Lyon, a Herbert River district cane grower, who fought like a tiger for his community. He made sure the reality on the ground was heard loud and clear in Brisbane and Canberra.” Mr Katter also praised the leadership of Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo and KAP State Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto. “Ramon Jayo stood tall for his people every step of the way, and Nick Dametto was a bulldog in Brisbane, ensuring the fight stayed front and centre,” Mr Katter said. “The combined effort of these people—and their refusal to back down—delivered this outcome. Without them, we’d still be stuck in the bureaucratic mud. “We thank the Prime Minister and the Minister, but I want to be very clear, it is because of this group of people with a tiger in their tank —that the grants have finally been delivered. “The people of Hinchinbrook and the Herbert can take heart that their fighters on the ground never stopped swinging.” Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said after the region had suffered the largest flooding event in over 50 years, it would come as a great relief to those who are eligible for the increased grant funding. “These grants will provide a leg up for many small businesses, primary producers and community organisations to assist them to rebuild at a time when it can feel like they have lost everything,” he said. “I would like to thank all those who have advocated and worked towards this important outcome for our district.” Mr Katter stressed the need for faster action in future disasters. “We all know North Queenslanders are resilient, but we shouldn’t have to fight this hard or wait this long. “When you’ve got crops in the ground rotting and machinery out of action, decisions should be made in days—not dragged out over weeks.” Mr Katter vowed to keep pushing for a more responsive disaster funding system that treats North Queenslanders with the urgency and respect they deserve. “But today, we celebrate the win—and we thank the fighters who never gave up.” ENDS

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is supporting calls for Mount Isa and Cloncurry to be classified as ‘very remote’ so teachers can access the federally funded Reduction of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). “We have written to the minister for education requesting an urgent review of the location classification systems in use and how we can streamline results and definitions across Australia,” Mr Katter said. Currently, education uses the ABS Remoteness Structure, which classifies Mount Isa and Cloncurry as ‘remote’, while health officials use the Modified Monash Model (MMM), which classifies the North West towns as ‘very remote’. “While both location’s classifications use data collected during the national census every five years, with the results collated into the Australian Statistical Geography Standard – Remoteness Areas (ASGS-RA), the differing results for our teachers living and working in remote areas is significant,” Mr Katter said. HELP provides financial assistance for students to pay costs associated with higher education. During 2024, the HELP scheme covered nearly $122,000 of education costs for the majority of students taking up work in very remote locations and $175,000 for graduates of medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies. “Despite being a wonderful place to live and raise a family we have difficulty recruiting qualified and experienced teachers to the North West, and when they see their fellow public servants who work in health being given extra benefits to work in areas away from the coast, well it’s not fair is it?” Mr Katter questioned. “I may be biased when it comes to how good it is living in north Queensland, but I am not blind to the challenges people in remote areas contend with; issues our coastal cousins could not even comprehend. “Not many metropolitan families would be comfortable with unqualified teachers instructing their children, waiting eight weeks to see a GP and paying between $125 and $300 for that appointment, waiting years for knee operations that will alleviate disability, driving a 20-hour round trip or paying $800 for a two-hour flight to the nearest city with no inflight meal or entertainment. “Yes we are tough in the North West but enough is enough; we demand the governments do more to progress remote communities towards having access to the same services provided to our city cousins,” Mr Katter said. Queensland Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has also contacted the federal education minister on this matter. ENDS

As North Queensland marks one month since record-breaking floods devastated the region, the answer is becoming more clear as to why Category D funding has taken so long to be activated. It is standard procedure for state governments to request this funding from the commonwealth, and past disasters of this nature and magnitude have seen such requests approved almost immediately. Mr Katter's office understands the state government only requested funding on Monday, March 3rd. So, why has the state government failed to act until now? At a press conference today, Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter called out the premier for failing North Queenslanders by delaying essential funding for beleaguered farmers and communities. Flanked by representatives from AgForce, Canegrowers, and Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR), as well as KAP Deputy Leader and Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, Mr Katter shared the plight of the North's farmers. "North Queensland is not some distant, irrelevant outpost; it is the beating heart of our nation's agriculture and resources," Mr Katter declared. "Our farmers and graziers are the ones who put fresh food on the tables of every Australian every day. To treat them as anything less than vital is an affront to the very fabric of this nation." Today, QCAR also published an open letter to the prime minister[i], highlighting the situation faced by local producers, such as Caroline and Trevor Crisp of Helens Hill. The Crisps endured devastating losses, including the death of more than 50 cattle and extensive property damage. Their recovery costs will exceed $200,000. Mr Katter has consistently called for disaster relief, urging the government to raise grants for flood-affected farmers from the current $25,000 to $75,000. "It's truly beyond comprehension that in past disasters, the state government has recognised the scale of damage and responded, but now, when North Queensland is on its knees, we're being offered a pittance," Mr Katter said. "The Queensland government has more than dropped the ball on this. This isn't just about fairness; it's about survival. If this goes on for much longer, many of these farmers will not recover."