Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. How is the Albanese Labor government working closely with Australian farmers and producers to support them during the conflict in the Middle East?

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

I want to thank our terrific member for Bendigo. I know she's got some fine farmers and producers in her electorate, and it was great to be with her just a few weeks ago to meet with many of them. Our government understands the importance of keeping our farmers farming during this difficult time. We know that every community across Australia and, indeed, countries across the globe including our near neighbours rely on our world-class food and fibre. We're working day and night, as I said yesterday, with our farmers and producers to assist them with the immediate challenges from the current conflict in the Middle East, which we continue to monitor.

Of course, front of mind for our farmers and producers right now at this point in time is the supply of fuel and fertiliser, which underpins everything they do, including, of course, our food production. We know that demand for fuel in some parts of the country is higher than normal, as the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has indicated, particularly in our regional and rural communities. We're hearing from our farmers, our producers and, indeed, our fishers that there are some challenges right now, which the minister outlined along with how we're responding.

It's why our government yesterday held the roundtable with the National Farmers' Federation, Fertilizer Australia, the Australian Institute of Petroleum and the Australian Trucking Association. We all reaffirmed yesterday that this conflict in the Middle East is not and should not be an opportunity for commercial opportunity for people. We discussed yesterday the importance of the fuel industry delivering fuel across our economy, including to our regions. The minister has outlined the actions that we are taking. After this meeting yesterday, the President of the National Farmers' Federation, Hamish McIntyre, said:

Now is the time for calm, considered and sensible actions …

In fact, the leader—the former leader—of the Nationals rightly backed this message on Monday on Sky, where he said:

… the big message for every Australian is, don't panic.

The supplies are there.

Regrettably, Mr Speaker, not everybody is getting the message. There is a responsibility on all of us in this place to act in the national interest, and I call on everybody to do that.

All of us in this place need to reassure all Australians that fuel is continuing to arrive in Australia in normal volumes. People should go about their usual business in their usual way with confidence. The fuel supply coming into the country is in addition to the strategic fuel reserve that has not yet been drawn on. And let me be very clear about that. That reserve is larger than what we had when those opposite were in government. On fertiliser, for the upcoming planting season, the fertiliser that is required is already on the water or in the country. That is the advice that we are receiving clearly—that the fertiliser is already on the water or in the country.

On this side of the House, we're going to continue to work with our farmers, our primary producers and our fishers in the national interest, and I call on everybody else in this place to do the same.