LISTENING appears to be a dying skill.
Among politicians and policy makers, it is perhaps already dead.
During election campaigns, a safe go-to mantra for a potential candidate is to reinforce his or her listening skills, to reassure voters he/she is "all ears" to the concerns, complaints and criticisms of the constituents.
That lasts until they step over the threshold of their relevant party headquarters and are whitewashed with what's best for the party.
One wonders if anyone is listening to horticulture at the moment.
There are some serious issues being echoed about yet little headway being made on them.
At the Fair Farms Fair and Ethical Sourcing Conference in Melbourne last month, several speakers highlighted the ongoing issues surrounding labour.
They weren't all about access workers; many spoke on the need for improved ethical hiring policies and how the industry is perceived through the eyes of foreign workers.
Issues were raised, points made, statements declared; now what?
Were the lawmakers at the conference? Did they read the reports, catch up on the updates from their representatives?
Are they across the crisis?
Few of those in charge seemed to be listening three years ago when a researcher who did his PhD on Varroa mite relayed details from an outbreak simulation.
The results were published and he shared them during public talks which were attended by government officials.
Did anyone in charge heed this warning? Did anyone make early moves to come up with a response plan based on the research?
Judging by the failed attempt to control the Varroa mite outbreak in NSW, apparently not.
On the business front, a specialist business consultant has warned several years of labour shortages and leaping labour costs combined with recent seasonal setbacks, plus steep rises in fuel, fertiliser, freight and packaging expenses is set to thump horticulture growers who will struggle with cash flow.
He's warned of a surge in voluntary exits from fresh produce farms in the next six to 12 months.
Again, is anyone hearing this? Will there be a single politician to read these reports, or even this whinging rant you're currently wading through that's pointing them out?
There are the occasional glimmers of hope though.
South Australia is getting a new biosecurity facility which should help with fresh produce trade.
Of course, there has been plenty of backpatting from various political representatives, even though industry itself is footing most of the bill. Industry can only go so far, do so much, to help itself.
It's time pollies leaned in a bit closer or turned up their hearing aids to hear what's really going on in horticulture.
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Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
