20 October 2009 Mr David Crombie President National Farmers’ Federation PO Box E10 Kingston ACT AUSTRALIA 2604 Dear David, I am most concerned about the NFF’s advocacy of an Emissions Trading Scheme which would be against the interests of farmers, their local communities and support businesses. Throughout the debate on the government’s CPRS, the NFF has been effectively missing in action. The NFF has not been a strong voice working to ensure that the government, the public and farming constituents were aware of the great problems posed by a carbon cost. There is obviously a considerable gap between what farmers tell me and what you seem to think they are saying on an ETS. I have travelled extensively and talked to numerous farmers, communities and food processors who are totally opposed to an ETS in any form because of the threat it poses to their livelihood. I wish to invite you to come with me to several properties and businesses in rural Australia and to attend a meeting of farmers to hear from them at first hand what they think of the ETS.  The Parliament is not sitting in the first two weeks of November and I would willingly clear my diary to take you during this period. If you would nominate two days, I can organise some destinations. Your input would also be welcome. As you would be fully aware, the business of agriculture in Australia is characterised by interdependency amongst its constituent members. Every part of the production chain, from the paddock to the plate, must work efficiently to produce a competitive product in a highly subsidised and unstable world market. If freight costs go up thanks to an ETS, if feedmills and cool rooms cost more to operate thanks to an ETS, if abattoirs have to pay carbon costs thanks to an ETS, if food processors’ power costs rise thanks to the ETS – then farmers will inevitably suffer whether excluded from an ETS or not. I have yet to meet a farmer who thinks they can be quarantined from the impact of all these costs. In addition, rural Australia understands better than most that once a CPRS is established by the Parliament, then its fate lies in the hands of whatever deal Labor wants to do with the Greens into the future. Country people do not want to see their future ransomed between powerplays in the Senate or traded off for Green preferences.  I would appreciate it if you would provide a response to my letter as soon as possible so that we can organise a successful visit. Yours sincerely,   Senator the Hon Ron Boswell Senator for Queensland