Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:59): As the conflict in the Middle East enters its third week with no immediate resolution in sight, uncertainty around global fuel supplies continues to ripple around the world. Across Australia petrol and diesel prices are soaring, leaving our farmers and industries dangerously exposed. Logistics experts warn that Australia’s fuel insecurity is far worse than we had expected. The solution to our fuel insecurity now and into the future could be hemp, the fast-growing and climate-friendly crop which can be grown practically anywhere. Hemp seed can be used to make biofuel, which would power most existing vehicles without modification. One hectare of hemp is able to produce up to 1000 litres of biofuel. Hemp requires minimal water and takes very little time to grow – 100 days from seed to harvest. The return for farmers could range from $2000 to $7000 per hectare. I could go on about its many uses and benefits to the economy, but you can read about it in the parliamentary inquiry into the industrial hemp industry in Victoria, which Legalise Cannabis Victoria referred a couple of years ago. In this era of geopolitical insecurity, with climate change biting hard, it is time we got serious about developing our hemp industry in Victoria.