LAST week AFP officers with machine guns lined the front of Parliament House in Canberra amid tighter security arrangements.
But a friendlier scene enshrined the nation’s capital yesterday as two healthy dairy cows chewed on lush green grasses and provided photo opportunities for a steady stream of federal politicians and tourists.
The cows grazed on the front lawns of Parliament House to coincide with a dairy industry stakeholders gathering in Canberra for the official launch of the inaugural Australian Dairy Vision by the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC).
The two cows from Cumberoona Holstein Farm ventured from Cowra, NSW, to Parliament’s front lawns, watched closely by owners Ian and Lisa Hindmarsh and their neighbour Rose Moxey.
The show cows appeared at ease with the crowd of onlookers, many of whom lined-up for a photograph, including Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
Western Australian Liberal MP Nola Marina, and friend.
Western Australian Liberal MP Nola Marina, who is a staunch advocate of dairy farming, and Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan, who has a similar passion for the industry in his rural electorate, also showed their support along with South Australian Liberal MP Tony Pasin and Queensland LNP MP Scott Buccholz.
The Australian Dairy Vision is a statement and set of priorities for the whole of industry to embrace and commit to with pride, according to ADIC chair Noel Campbell.
Mr Campbell said the vision would map-out the next decade for Australia’s $13 billion dairy farm, manufacturing and export industry.
“The vision’s implementation plan will not only drive collective action, it will also be a measure of progress throughout the Australian dairy value chain,” he said.
Colin Bettles
National political writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National political writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
