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

I want to thank my fabulous Tasmanian colleague the member for Bass. I know that the member for Bass has been talking to farmers and primary producers in her electorate, like many people in this building have, about how the war in the Middle East is impacting them at the moment and impacting globally. Certainly we understand that the work our farmers and foresters do underpins our food security, our regional economies, our national economy and, of course, our critical trading relationships. Over recent weeks, we know, they have been facing some challenges due to this war in the Middle East and its global impacts. That's why our government has been working day and night to help ease the pressure on our farmers and our fishers.

We know that front of mind for our food producers is the fuel and the fertiliser, which is why we've been taking action to keep Australia moving and our farmers farming. We've passed legislation to underwrite the purchase of fuel and fertiliser by the private sector to help get these critical inputs into Australia and to our farmers that need them. We've halved the fuel excise on petrol and diesel. We've amended the petrol and diesel standards, and we're releasing up to 20 per cent of our strategic fuel stockpile to get more fuel into our regions where our farmers need it. We understand how important diesel particularly is for our farmers, for keeping our trawlers and our fishing vessels moving and for ensuring our heavy vehicles can continue to deliver our world-class food and fibre. Our Fertiliser Supply Working Group is set to have its first meeting tomorrow. This group will build on the work already underway in our government and across industry to help improve the availability of fertiliser for our farmers.

We've heard also from the Treasurer today how we're helping small businesses, including our farmers and our fishers, to access credit by extending the small business responsible lending obligation exemption; and how the ATO will be establishing hardship measures which will also help our ag and fishing industries. As I said yesterday, with engagement with the industry, we have taken the decision to defer the full cost recovery for export services for one year until 1 July 2027.

The chief executive of the Australian Meat Industry Council, Tim Ryan, said yesterday:

They have listened and responded to industry concerns …

That is exactly what our government has been doing this whole time with the war in the Middle East. We have been working with industry, listening to their concerns and working together in the national interests. All of us in this place and right across the country need to be working in the national interest, not going around with talking points to undermine what the government and industry are trying to do together. We should all be working to help shield all Australians, including our farmers and our fishers, from some of the worst impacts of this conflict in the Middle East.

See this speech in context