Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:11): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. A survey by Ausveg found that 28 per cent of vegetable producers have halted or reduced planting due to fuel and fertiliser supply issues. Will the minister guarantee farmers will have access to fuel for the full season, from planting or sowing right through to harvest, to give them the certainty they need to plant their crops and feed Victorians?

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (14:11): It is a good question from the member for Lowan, and I thank her for asking it, because this is a really topical issue at the moment. We know that there is extreme pressure in the system on not just fuel but fertiliser, and I am glad to hear more people talking about it, because we want to see more action in regard to fertiliser. I am very pleased that the federal government this week set up the fertiliser supply working group, and we look forward to participating in that group to make sure that Victorians can get the fertiliser that they need when they need it. We know that at the moment there is sufficient supply in the system to get sowing underway, but there is concern about down the track and what that looks like – whether or not that fertiliser can get through the strait, whether or not there is enough urea at the ports in the Middle East to get here. So that is being monitored carefully. I have been advised that there is still sufficient time for that fertiliser to arrive so that cropping can continue. There is also some work being done, both intrastate and interstate, to see whether or not there can be supplies purchased between farmers. That is currently underway. Agriculture Victoria are working very closely to the sector to identify any pressure points and assist where they can. But, yes, it is a very important issue that we will continue to work on.

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:13): A survey of livestock producers by the Red Meat Advisory Council has found 85 per cent have enough fuel for just one week. Does the minister support fuel rationing to ensure supply for Victorian farmers?

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (14:13): I thank the member again for her question. As I mentioned in the substantive, fuel is also a considerable issue which we have of course spoken about before. I am aware that some are concerned that modelling that they have undertaken does not provide long-term certainty, so Agriculture Victoria is working with the state controller to identify where there are localised shortages and to get supply to them. This is a considerable issue not just in Victoria, and again I welcome the work that we are undertaking with the Commonwealth to ensure that there is fuel for those who need it when they need it.