Rodney Stevens

Clarence Valley Council will call on the NSW Government to respond to the former coalition’s NSW Food Production and Supply inquiry report and put the issue of food security on the agenda of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation and Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers.

The former NSW coalition Government undertook an inquiry in November 2022 into Food Production and Supply in NSW that made 65 recommendations aiming to address issues in the NSW food system, to which the newly elected Minns Labor government is yet to respond.

At the November 28 council meeting, Cr Debrah Novak moved a motion that was seconded by Cr Allison Whaites.

“When you consider the major number of businesses that are involved around food production and food growing in our region, and in particular the Clarence Valley, and we have 65 commodities, this is a pretty important inquiry for us to be a part of,” Cr Novak said.

“Even more so knowing of the 34 recommendations the NSW state government has identified five of them in direct relation to our local councils and they’re offering money to be a part of this food system conversation.”

Cr Novak said by writing to the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation of councils and the Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers it will create a bigger conversation for the region, not just the Clarence Valley.

Speaking against, Cr Bill Day moved an amendment to remove the first two points of the motion, 1. To note and thank the previous NSW Coalition for their ‘Food Production and Supply in NSW’ inquiry and report, and 2. Note the NSW Labor government had until May 2023 to respond to the report which hasn’t yet happened, with the amendments accepted by Cr’s Novak and Whaites.

Cr Ian Tiley spoke in support of the motion stating that council was calling for the NSW Government to respond to the coalitions Food Production and Supply in NSW report and inquiry, and council strongly supported the NSW Government working with local councils to develop and implement strategies to improve local food systems and provide appropriate funding as required.

The following motion was passed unanimously that council:

1. Write to the following NSW Labor Government Ministers requesting the Government to respond to the NSW 2022 Food Production and Supply Inquiry Report as a matter of urgency: – NSW Premier the Hon. Chris Minns MP – Minister for Agriculture the Hon. Tara Moriarty MP – Minister for Local Government the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP – Minister for Regional New South Wales and North Coast the Hon. Rose Jackson MP
2. Write to the Chair of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation, Cr Sharon Cadwallader to have this matter put on the agenda for their next quarterly meeting.
3. write to the Northern Rivers RDA GM Nathan McGrath and ask to have this matter put on the agenda for the next RDA meeting.
4. acknowledge Recommendation 6 from the Food Production and Supply in NSW’ inquiry, that the NSW Government works with local councils to develop and implement strategies to improve local food systems, and provides appropriate funding as required.