THE NATIONAL group Farmers for Climate Action has appointed a its inaugural chief executive.
Verity Morgan-Schmidt, who resides on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, has stepped into the role.
Farmers for Climate Action is an associate member of the National Farmers Federation. It reports 2000 members from across the country.
It is focused on lobbying for political action to tackle global warming, investment in research, development and implementation of climate adaptation measures, increasing on-farm use of renewable energy and developing opportunities for producers in carbon markets.
Mrs Morgan-Schmidt, a 28 year old, grew up in Western Australia’s north-eastern wheat belt on a sheep and wool property.
She has been an executive officer of Western Australia’s Farmers Federation, and prior to that, Mrs Morgan-Schmidt worked for Elders, spending time at the Australian Wool Exchange, in Victoria.
Stepping into the role, Mrs Morgan-Schmidt said she was heartened by the grassroots support that the group had received from everyday farmers.
Her first priority in the role would be to call for political action to climate impacts that are “happening here and now”.
“Members of parliament can’t stick their head in the sand, even in safe seats,” she said.
“They need to be aware that if they don’t take their constituents climate change concerns seriously, their seats won’t be safe in the future.
“There are a lot of disenfranchised voters and that should be a wake up call for all politicians.”
Mrs Morgan Schmidt said climate change presents an opportunity for farmers to educate consumers about the variability of the production cycle.
“When it comes to understanding how growers are affected by extreme weather events, climate change offers the perfect talking point.
“I’d love it if all mums and dads, when picking up their groceries, understood what’s going on out on our farms so that when there’s a drought in the Wimmera, for example, shoppers in the supermarket know that’s the reason why their bread is a bit more expensive this month.”
Southern NSW based Rennylea Pastoral Company director Lucinda Corrigan, who was a former director of Meat and Livestock Australia is a Farmers for Climate Change committee member.
She welcomed Mrs Morgan-Schmidt’s appointment and said “there is a huge appetite in agriculture and in regional Australia for meaningful action on climate change”.
