Thread by @gabriellechan

Quiet Australians: A #Thread
"I know many farmers don't support the NFF's position on this and I think they need to reflect it,” says Canavan, over @NationalFarmers aspiration to be “trending towards carbon neutrality by 2030.” (Story by @jamiesonmurph )
theland.com.au/story/6650195/…

In reply, @tonymahar said "this aspiration (2030) was developed by grassroots farmers and has been in the public domain for 18 months now”.
This fact+Canavan's intervention coming so long after the policy hit the public, shows the former resources minister's purpose is tribal.

Actually, farmer groups (not all) have been working quietly (too quietly IMO) on building policy for farmers to take advantage of opportunities that might also present some solutions, including around land management, carbon abatement and eco-services. nff.org.au/media-release/…

Another eg, the Meat and Livestock Association’s former ceo Richard Norton was on pretty much every ag event stage, talking about this stuff since 2017. Not a peep from Canavan.

abc.net.au/news/rural/201…

Ask former NSW Nats minister Niall Blair. "Some suggest this policy will wipe out Aus ag...Nothing could be further from the truth. I see there is a huge opportunity for both farmers and brand Australia." smh.com.au/national/a-net…

The drum beat for carbon neutrality has been getting louder amongst farmers, a) because farmers are noticing climate effects and b) because markets are demanding action. Consumers increasingly want to know how their food is grown. You can't argue with them.

This cold hard reality combined with carbon neutral aspiration by farmer groups, were rolled out over the last few days by way of evidence to show up the Coalition's absurd notion that 2050 net zero is End Times. It equals a clear disconnection between party and constituency.

Add to that, the rolling drought and the summer bushfires and it means rural Australia is speaking up. Why would the Nats quietly put the words “climate change” on their website as a “policy priority”, (even if they have no policy).
nationals.org.au/about/what-we-…

So that’s why Canavan is getting nervous. Nothing worse than when quiet Australians get loud and they are not totally on board with your culture war. What happens if this science/finance reality creep continues, off the back of *shock* evidence and lived experience? What to do?

💡!! Pushback of course! Ride the boundary. Round up the traditional supporters, who maybe wavering as they see more and more of their trusted friends speaking up. The mob is moving so Canavan, like a good kelpie, is trying to block the gate.

And more important, bite the heels of their advocacy groups like the NFF because they have a way into MPs offices and a few more resources than their voters who are metaphorically and physically a long way from parliament in Canberra.

Now, given the NFF created this goal after consulting with "grass roots farmers", logic would tell us the farmers' advocate cannot fold for a former minister who deliberately dealt himself out of cabinet to help splinter the party for the leadership ambitions of his old boss.

So that leaves the remaining Nationals partyroom. Before them, behold, another opportunity for *other* Nats to lay out their party's purpose. And who it stands for.