Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank God there is a federal Labor government! People listening may be a bit confused, but, under those opposite, we went from six refineries down to two refineries, and most of the fuel reserves were offshore, somewhere in the United States, whereas we have ramped up fuel reserves so that we can respond in times of crisis like this, having that capacity here onshore or in our EEZ. That is important, and it is helping us manage the situation at the moment.

I want to celebrate our primary producers, but right from the outset I want to acknowledge that we understand that it has been a difficult period for many farmers across the country. Australia's weather extremes—it is a place of drought and flooding plains, such as what we're seeing in the territory at the moment—mean it has often been a hard time to be on the land. That makes it even more impressive that ABARES, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, forecast that in the current financial year we're on track to reach that $100 billion in agricultural output, which is outstanding—four years earlier than the 2030 target. I want to give a shout-out to the National Farmers' Federation and everyone who has advocated to help our primary producers reach that target. The metres of rain, such as is falling on the Territory, is good for feed, but of course it degrades the roads over which cattle trucks, as an example, travel, necessitating repair and investment.

The conflict in the Middle East is a reality. It's affecting the globe and it's creating renewed uncertainty for our producers and our regional communities. From day one our government, the Albanese federal Labor government, has been working closely with industry, monitoring the impacts of that conflict and helping to keep our food and fibre moving across the country. We've released reserves. We're working with stakeholders to keep Australia and Australia's primary producers moving.

Since coming to government we've backed Australian agriculture in very practical ways, strengthening biosecurity, boosting the ag workforce, opening new trade opportunities and supporting more sustainable and climate-resilient production. That's important, because if we get that balance right we protect the future of the sector while creating the conditions for continued and further growth. Nowhere is that more important than the place that I'm proud to represent, the Northern Territory. The Top End, as all honourable members know, is famous for its cattle. It was great to catch up with the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association president, Henry Burke, and their CEO, Romy Carey, in the past few days in Darwin at their annual conference. The cattle industry alone is valued at $1.2 billion, and in 2024 those ringers from the Top End exported 274,181 head of cattle from the Northern Territory through Darwin Port, up from 184,597 the year before—a big increase, and well done to all our cattlemen and cattlewomen.

While the NT is known for its vast cattle stations, its agricultural story is bigger than that. In financial year 2024, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry is contributing around $1.4 billion to the Territory economy, which is up by 10 per cent on the previous year. The Territory is also Australia's largest mango producer, generating $128 million in gross value of production and accounting for more than half of national production—more than four million trays annually. Melons, watermelons, rockmelons, honeydews and even pumpkins are the second largest horticultural activity in the Territory, valued at $70 million, making up around 23 per cent of the national supply. And aquaculture, driven primarily by barramundi and pearling, was valued at $77 million in financial year 2024. That's huge. Ag is so important to the Territory. Last but not least, the Territory is famous for its crocodiles, and not just for tourism; crocodile farming is a serious export industry.

I want to celebrate all the primary producers in the Northern Territory and around Australia. Our federal Labor government has your back. We are working with you as valued and respected stakeholders.

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