Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member opposite. I also want to thank all of my colleagues behind me who have been representing farmers and primary producers, and talking to me about some of the challenges that they have been hearing in their electorate. We do acknowledge that there are challenges, particularly for our farmers, our fishers and our primary producers, which is why I'm meeting with them on a regular basis to hear directly from them about what is happening on the ground and so that we can address the challenges that they are experiencing.

As I have said in this place, we are working with them in terms of fertiliser. As you would be well aware, we can produce enough food in this country to more than feed the Australian people, which is why we currently export around 80 per cent of our primary produce, in terms of value. The member opposite shouldn't be panicking people when it comes to food supply in this country. We will continue to work with our farmers in relation to fuel and fertiliser. Our government has already taken action, as the minister and the Prime Minister have outlined.

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