Farm Writers Lunch

The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW

Friday 28 March 2025

12:00 for 12:30pm

We are delighted that the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon Chris Minns MP, has accepted our invitation to speak at Farm Writers about his government’s plans for agriculture and regional NSW as he hits the half-way mark of his first term in office.

Join us for this not to be missed Farm Writers Lunch where the Premier will share his thoughts and take your questions.

Coming off the back of a bumper season for farmers across the state, strong commodity prices and favourable seasonal conditions, what does the Premier see as opportunities and challenges for our $20bn+ food and agribusiness sector, and how will government policies enable a vision of a $30bn agriculture industry by 2030?

Chris Minns is the 47th Premier of NSW and was born and raised in the St George area. He previously worked in politics, the charity sector and briefly as a retained firefighter while completing his studies.

Chris was elected as the Member for Kogarah in 2015 and became leader of the NSW Labor Party in June 2022, successfully leading the party to government at the 2023 state election.

Chris has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a Master’s Degree from Princeton University where he won a full scholarship to complete his studies.

Bookings close Monday 24 March 2025. Please note, for this event, only tables of 10 guests will be available for booking. Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

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For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au

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Agribuzz - hosted by King & Wood Mallesons

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Agribuzz is a smart casual event providing professional networking and development opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere.

It provides the opportunity for our members and friends to exchange business intelligence and ideas over drinks and canapés, enjoy a brief presentation, and mingle with their peers. Those establishing their careers can talk to agribusiness leaders over a drink while those on the look-out for talent can meet aspiring leaders-in-the-making.

Event host King & Wood Mallesons is a valued corporate member and long-time supporter of Agribuzz.

Registrations close Wednesday 30 April 2025.

For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au

Proudly sponsored by:

Farm Writers Lunch

Trump, tariffs and (free) trade

Friday 23 May 2025

12:00 for 12:30pm

Australia is a leading and long-standing global advocate for free trade. As one of the founding members of The Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations, Australia has signed 18 free trade agreements including with our four largest agricultural export markets – China, Japan, South Korea and the United States of America. But do these agreements mean anything with the second coming of President Donald Trump, who in his first few months in office has demonstrated a willingness to eschew free trade in favour of tariffs, ‘the most beautiful word in the dictionary’?

Despite decades of global movement towards freer and fairer trade between nations, America is fast turning its back on free trade as it pursues a new age and era of American domestic industrial exceptionalism.

However, does Australia still have a trump card to play in this tariff and free trade war? Are President Trump’s policies putting his favourite meal at risk? Australia exports $3.4 billion worth of beef to America, including meat for the burgers at McDonalds. Is this the bargaining chip (or is that fries?) we need to keep Australian agricultural exports to the USA tariff free?

We are fortunate to be joined by one of Australian agriculture’s fiercest and longest-standing free trade advocates. As the minister for trade, tourism and investment in the Abbott and Turnbull governments, the Hon Andrew Robb AO is responsible for negotiating and signing free trade agreements with China, South Korea and Japan, and was a leading advocate for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the canary in the regional free trade coal mine scuttled by the 2016 US presidential election.

As a former chief executive of the Cattle Council and then the National Farmers’ Federation, and now as a consultant on trade and investment, Andrew joins us to share his unique insights about the benefits of free trade, the risks facing Australian agriculture from a growing movement against trade liberalisation and how he thinks Australia should approach a trade war with the United States.

If we’re lucky, we might even get his views, as a former federal director of the Liberal Party and federal member for Goldstein, on the outcome of the Federal election.

Bookings close Monday 19 May 2025. Tables of 8 to 10 guests can be booked. Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

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For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au

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Agribuzz - at an exciting new venue in the Sydney CBD

Thursday, 12 June 2025

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Agribuzz is a smart casual event providing professional networking and development opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere.

It provides the opportunity for our members and friends to exchange business intelligence and ideas over drinks and canapés, enjoy a brief presentation, and mingle with their peers. Those establishing their careers can talk to agribusiness leaders over a drink while those on the look-out for talent can meet aspiring leaders-in-the-making.

Registrations close Monday 9 June 2025.

For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au

Proudly sponsored by:

Farm Writers Lunch

SAVE THE DATE

Rachel Yangoyan, QantasLink CEO

Friday 25 July 2025

12:00 for 12:30pm

Join Farm Writers to hear from our guest speaker, QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan.

Bookings close Monday 22 July 2025. Tables of 8-10 guests can be reserved at this lunch. Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

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For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au