Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government will always back our farmers, fishers and producers. They underpin our food security, our economy and our regional communities. Over recent weeks they have faced real challenges from the conflict in the Middle East, which is having impacts globally, and that's why our government has been working day and night to help our farmers manage these impacts and keep Australia moving.

We know our farmers are under real pressure on input costs, particularly fuel and fertiliser. That's why the Albanese Labor government is acting to halve the fuel excise for three months, lowering costs at the bowser for farmers filling up machinery. We've amended fuel and diesel standards and released 20 per cent of our strategic fuel stockpile, and yesterday our government deferred full cost recovery for export services for one year until 1 July 2027, giving farmers and exporters more certainty and allowing our producers to continue to compete on the world stage.

The NFF president, Hamish McIntyre, called these 'practical decisions that will deliver more certainty for farmers and exporters'. The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council called it 'a commonsense outcome'. The Australian Meat Industry Council said that our government has listened—unlike those opposite—and responded to industry concerns. These changes will keep our farmers farming and will mean regional communities are not left behind. That is what's in the national interest, and on this side of the chamber we will always stand up for our farmers, producers, exporters and regional communities.