Media Release

TasFarmers welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s decision to update its gene technology policy, enabling farmers to access advanced plant breeding technology. TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the decision reflects a practical, evidence-based step forward for the state’s agricultural sector.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) own analysis shows further water buybacks are unlikely to deliver significant improvements in environmental objectives across the Basin and zero improvements in any Victorian river systems including the Victorian Murray.

Australian fruit and vegetable growers are missing out of sales of up to one million tonnes of produce that never makes it to market, estimated at up to $2.5 billion a year. In response, a new national research program aims to help farmers keep more value from every harvest by tackling surplus and losses on-farm.

The NSW Government is boosting freight efficiency to keep goods moving and help reduce pressure on fuel supply in NSW, working closely with the Commonwealth and other states under the new National Fuel Security Plan. In line with Level 2 of the Plan - Keeping Australia Moving - these measures will increase access to the road network for larger trucks that can carry more goods in a single trip, and ease restrictions on operating hours.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has enacted the Price Exploitation Prevention Act for the first time, since its inception in 1949, in an unprecedented move to manage the on-going fuel crisis.

Following a meeting of the National Cabinet ... the Australian Government will halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months ... is acting to shield Australia against any future fuel supply chain disruptions, by establishing new fuel security powers, enabling government to work with fuel suppliers to keep fuel flowing to Australia.

Queensland horticulture growers have been dealing with rising input costs for years. Now, surging fuel prices, and critical input shortages are compounding those pressures, pushing farms to breaking point, threatening jobs and the state’s long-term supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Australia is “critically exposed to geopolitical risk”, unless Australia can reliably produce a domestic supply of liquid fuel, The Nationals’ think tank has warned.

New paper says Australia’s present fuel strain is not the worst-case scenario and calls for more drilling, new diesel-focused refineries, and coal-to-liquids to restore fuel security. Australia’s current fuel crisis should not be mistaken for the worst-case scenario. That is the warning from a major new report released today by the Page Research Centre...

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says today’s National Cabinet outcomes fall short of delivering the certainty farmers need, warning that more must be done to give farmers confidence. VFF President Brett Hosking said while the Federal Government’s temporary fuel excise cut may provide some relief for consumers, it does little to address the unique and massive impacts being felt at the farm gate.

The NSW Minister for Energy has issued formal information notices to a number of liquid fuel companies, as NSW responds to fuel distribution challenges arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Last week the NSW Government sought voluntary information from major fuel companies about historical stocks and sales as well as future orders and forecasts.

...the Premier stood on Labor’s position and refused to commit to taking tangible action on fuel security by implementing a robust ethanol mandate, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. In opposition the LNP put three bills into Parliament to implement an ethanol mandate, then refused to support the KAP bill in 2014. 

Murrindindi Shire Council has expressed deep concern about the decision to close the Community Bank Kinglake branch, warning it risks undermining bushfire recovery and will leave the community without a critical local service. The branch will close on Friday 5 June 2026, forcing residents to travel around 25 kilometres to access the nearest full-service bank in Hurstbridge.

On 24 March 2026, Australia and the European Union agreed the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Albanese's optimistic announcement is at odds with the widespread criticism and disappointment evident in the responses from the Victorian Farmers' Federation, Canegrowers, the National Farmers' Federation, Queensland Farmers' Federation and the Australian Lot Feeder's Association

New data from more than 700 primary producers shows fuel supply is falling short of demand by millions of litres across regional Western Australia, with the most significant gaps in the grain growing regions ... "Time is critical and running out. The Cook Labor Government must intervene immediately and redirect supply to farmers as a matter of absolute urgency. The Premier has the power to act — and he must."

Australian rural confidence declined in the first quarter of 2026, with the nation’s farmers already concerned about cost pressures in the year ahead, even prior to the outbreak of the current Middle East conflict. The quarter one Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found national rural confidence had slipped to a net reading of -9 per cent (down from six per cent in the previous survey) even before the outbreak of the war against Iran.

Anthony Boyle. The past week has confirmed what operators already know: the issue is not whether Australia can source fuel overall. The issue is getting fuel into regional areas, at a price freight businesses can survive. Australia is not facing a broad national fuel shortage.

Students from across Wellington Shire have taken a hands-on step into the world of aviation, experiencing firsthand the career opportunities available right on their doorstep through an Aviation Taster Tour hosted by Wellington Shire Council. Sixteen secondary school students from three Wellington schools took part in the tour on Tuesday 17 March, travelling between West Sale Airport and the Longford Heliport.

Global investment in data centres is accelerating – and Australia is well-placed to lead – but this must happen on terms that benefit the community and deliver for the national interest. The Albanese Government’s National AI Plan, released in December 2025, sets out our ambition: to harness the benefits of AI while ensuring all Australian’s shares the benefits.