Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today submitted a Question With Notice to the Federal Minister for Agriculture asking him to award tenders for Government food contracts in our hospitals, schools, jails and defence forces to Australian farmers and producers.

“Will the Minister get his cabinet to implement a policy that hospitals, army, prisons, and numerous other Government institutions to buy Australian made unless there is a 30 per cent price difference?” Mr Katter asked the Minister.

Responding to media reports today that union and producer groups were lobbying the Government to ‘buy local’ – Mr Katter highlighted the current and future situation facing Australia’s agricultural and food processing industry, unless immediate action is taken.

“Australia is already a net importer of fruit and vegetables, pork and seafood, and very soon will be a net importer of food overall.

“Imports are increasing at 125 per cent every 10 years, whilst exports are increasing at only 28 per cent every 10 years.

“In fact if we are talking about edible (food) we would be taking out the live cattle and grain, we would be getting pretty close to being a net importer.

“Understand this, very soon Australia will not be able to feed itself,” he said.

Mr Katter has looked to America where unlike Australia the Government there supports local industry and awards contracts to American companies.

“Presidents Barack Obama and George Bush on the steel industry both said if it contains $1 of federal government money, it will contain 100 per cent American product.

“It would be good if we have a bit of Obama or Bush patriotism in our decision making in our country.

“Without a favourable reply from the Minister to my Question with Notice, we will be moving legislation in the Parliament,” Mr Katter said.