Dan Repacholi (Hunter, 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 delivering support to our farmers, producers and exporters to keep our food production strong and to help manage the impacts of 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 do want to thank the member for Hunter for that question. I know that his region has some great produce that he's very proud of, and he also knows why it's really important to keep our food system production very, very strong indeed. As I've said previously in this place, Australia does produce more food than we consume. But we do know that the conflict in the Middle East is having impacts globally and it's putting pressure on our food producers here in Australia. That's why the Albanese Labor government continues to work day and night to help our farmers manage the impacts of this conflict in the Middle East.

We're taking immediate action to support industry, to help keep our exports moving and to help Australia's food system remain strong. Before question time, I met again with stakeholders from across our agriculture industry. We are listening to their concerns, which is why today our government has taken a decision to defer the full cost recovery for export services for one year to 1 July 2027. This will help give our farmers, producers and exporters facing input cost pressures more certainty in the midst of global uncertainty. The president of the NFF, Hamish McIntyre, said today:

the package of measures provides welcome breathing space for farmers and exporters facing sustained input cost pressures and market uncertainty.

We know that this certainty is so critical for our farmers and producers, and it builds on the practical support that is always available for our farmers and primary producers. That includes the farm household allowance, concessional loans from the Regional Investment Corporation, independent financial counselling through the Rural Financial Counselling Service and the Farm Management Deposit Scheme—always available for our farmers when they need it.

While our government continues to support farmers, fishers and producers facing these cost pressures, we're also working to ensure they have the critical inputs of fuel and fertiliser. Today, we've also announced that we'll be establishing the new Fertiliser Supply Working Group. The group will include representatives from key government agencies and industry organisations such as Fertilizer Australia and the National Farmers' Federation. This is a response to a direct call from Fertilizer Australia and other key stakeholders. It builds on the work that we are already doing as a government to improve the availability of fertiliser, including, of course, amending the legislation to underwrite the purchase of fuel and fertiliser by the private sector, working with the ACCC to monitor and coordinate fertiliser supply, and working with industry and engaging with other countries to find alternative supplies of fertiliser. We'll continue to work with farmers and industry to make sure that we can help shield them from the impact of this global crisis.