Senate debates

Wednesday, 1 April 2026

Questions without Notice

Rural and Regional Australia

2:52 pm

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

Fertiliser is critical and our government is acting on multiple fronts to secure supply. The legislation that passed parliament this week gives Export Finance Australia new powers to underwrite fuel and fertiliser purchases from international markets. This means the government can give suppliers the confidence to get product to where it's needed most, and key fertiliser flowing to Australian farmers and producers.

At the same time, Ministers Collins and Ayres have established a fertiliser working group, bringing the Public Service together with representatives from Fertilizer Australia, the National Farmers' Federation and right across industry. This working group will meet for the first time tomorrow to monitor supply and demand and to work through options to increase supply. This may include engaging alternative supplies in South-East Asia and supporting domestic production. We're using every lever we have to keep our farmers farming.

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