Farmers are cautioning against the Labor government’s recent decision to increase taxes on producers, insisting that it would result in higher food prices and living costs. As part of the federal government budget, a new 10% levy will be imposed on all domestic agricultural, fisheries, and forestry producers to fund the cost of the country’s latest biosecurity system. This implies that grass-fed beef farmers will pay an additional 50 cents per head of cattle, prawn farmers will pay 67 cents per kilogram of prawns, egg farmers will pay an extra 3.25 cents per bird, and honey producers will pay just under 5 cents per kilogram, among others. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry estimates that these changes will raise $350 million within the next two years if implemented on July 1. However, the National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, argues that the budget does little to address inflation in food prices, which, according to her, is affecting 8 out of 10 Australians. Moreover, Simson stresses that along the entire supply chain, the businesses that produce, process, and transport food and fiber are under considerable strain. She further points out that while farmers are already significant financial contributors, they now have to bear the cost of managing historical pest and disease incursions as well as the enormous threats posed by pests and diseases on their doorstep. National Party leader David Littleproud echoes Simson’s sentiments, stating that it is unfathomable that the government would introduce a new “food tax” on Australians by expecting farmers to pay for importers’ biosecurity costs from other countries.