In The Know: Senator the Hon Murray Watt Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In our latest #InTheKnow Podcast episode, Host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Where they talk all things Politics, Agriculture and the power of modern connection to people within Agriculture.
Who better to help us get 'In The Know' than with our Minister for Agriculture himself!
Before getting the gig, Minister Murray Watt said to the Prime Minister,
"I'd be really keen to take on agriculture, it has issues that I care about. I was really keen to maintain some sort of portfolio that kept me connected to rural and regional Australia, and agriculture is a pretty good one for that."
In this episode, Oli and Senator Murray Watt cover:
Murray's journey from growing up in Queensland to practising law to the QLD senate to the Federal Minister for Agriculture
Mental health and loneliness in regional Australia
Positioning Australian agriculture in global foreign policy and power
The points of connection that agriculture has with technology and sustainability and how it can be further promoted
The fundamentals and imperfections of decision-making in policy
A legacy in biosecurity
Unlocking the key to a successful ag sector, not just in five years but 500 years
Opportunities for careers in agriculture
"I've probably never sort of set out to work in agriculture. But there was enough in my family history that makes it not an entire surprise that I've ended up in this role”.
And I think also one of the things about agriculture, and I guess having the privilege of being a minister is it's what you make of it.
And there are many aspects of my life that intersect with agriculture in some way. Whether it be as a consumer of food, as someone who's interested in regional Australia, or ever since I've been involved in politics and public policy, I've always been drawn to regional issues.
And again, that might be a little bit about my family background, or it might be about coming from Queensland, which is such a decentralised state. So I guess there were enough signals there that I might might end up in this role, even though I didn't necessarily and, you know, I think I'm one of many people who may not necessarily come directly from that background, not not having been personally a farmer.
But you know, these days, agriculture is such a broad career, that there's a place for so many different people with different skills and experiences. And I'm lucky enough to be one of them".
-Senator Murray Watt