Leaders have a responsibility to use their position to create a better future, not just a better present, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
“We need leaders who lead for the people who come after us.”
O’Connor says leaders are not a guarantee of leadership, but the type of leadership is influenced by the objectives of those in that role.
It has been claimed that the government is not listening to rural leaders, but O’Connor says that is not the case.
Agriculture sector leaders have made contributions on issues such as Mycoplasma bovis, the covid pandemic and the climate change debate.
Similarly, he says, sector leaders have pushed their case to the government, describing discussions as “blunt and harsh at times”, which was what he expected.
That does not mean the government blindly follows their every wish.
“Ultimately the government has to arrive at what they think is the best long-term outcome. Some industry leaders agree with our decisions and some don’t.”
Leadership also means encouraging discussion and debate on issues such as climate change, which O’Connor says is a topic that has “for 25 years been kicked around”.
The growth of social media has altered the debate and the shape of lobbying, providing a vehicle for what he calls “uninformed and irresponsible comments”, which can undermine the efforts of sector leaders.
Agriculture has always had splinter groups and O’Connor says the difference now is that social media gives them an effective platform to spread their message and to solicit, communicate and organise their supporters.