The Federal Greens look set to block the widely-criticised Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 and Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024 in the senate.

In order to pass the Senate, the Federal Government would require support from either the Coalition, or the Greens and two minor party members.

The government was seeking to impose a 6 per cent tax on producers on biosecurity costs. 

This would result in an estimated $51m to government coffers, with the grains industry the hardest hit at $12.5m.

The Coalition and farmers have been vocal opponents of the legislation, they call the “fresh food tax” and it seems the Greens, One Nation and other independent senators share their concerns.

Greens spokesperson for agriculture, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said “The fact this new proposed levy has zero buy-in from the agricultural sector speaks for itself – consultation on it was rushed and inadequate. 

“If the government needs an extra $50m to boost biosecurity border security, it should look elsewhere.

"To put things in perspective, if Labor accepted the Greens’ offer on doubling the tax on gas corporations to pass the government’s PRRT changes, we would raise $500m a year, ten times the annual amount Labor is seeking from farmers.

Senator Whish-Wilson. Image: supplied.

In a statement, the National Farmers Federation also confirmed One Nation, and Senators David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, Tammy Tyrrell and Ralph Babet have all indicated that they would oppose the levy legislation.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has also welcomed news that the crossbench will block the bill calling it "disastrous and ill-thought-out".

“This bill just didn’t make sense – asking Australian farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers was just disgraceful, from a Government that has shown time and time again how little regard it has for farmers and regional Australia" he said.

The NFF's Tony Mahar has been campaigning fiercely in Canberra against the proposed levy.

National Farmers Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said “We’ve fiercely fought to #ScraptheTax and now we hope the government can finally hit delete and find a better way to ensure Australia’s biosecurity system is the best in the world".

In their statement, the Greens questioned why the government is taxing "farmers doing it tough" rather than "the fossil fuel industry and the supermarket duopoly”