Senate debates Committees

Economics References Committee; Reference


Sean Bell

Sean Bell NSW, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party

3:45 pm

At the request of Senator Hanson, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 23 November 2026:

The issue of skyrocketing grocery prices, with particular reference to:

(a) the overall increase in grocery prices over the last 25 years, with and without substitution;

(b) fuel vulnerability and price impacts on inputs and transport from the shutdown of domestic refineries;

(c) international fertiliser price spikes and domestic fertiliser production capacity;

(d) increased regulatory burden and costs to farmers from red, green and blue tape;

(e) the long-term increase of power prices under the last 25 years of net-zero policies;

(f) the proportion of Australian agricultural farmland controlled by foreign corporations, family-owned ventures and cooperatives;

(g) the amount of money extracted overseas by farmland owning foreign corporations;

(h) the challenges faced by farming cooperatives in the modern market;

(i) market abuse by supermarkets;

(j) the increased cost that climate reporting and general regulatory compliance is placing on farmers;

(k) the amount of agricultural land required to be given up for carbon sequestration and the impact on national food and fibre production; and

(l) any other related matters.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

The question is that business of the Senate No. 2, standing in the name of Senator Hanson, be agreed to.