Comments attributable to NFF President Hamish McIntyre
The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the appointment of Anthea Harris as the Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator.
A national coordinator proved effective during the Covid pandemic, and now we urge the Government not to waste a moment in getting fuel to the farmers and fishers who need it most.
We acknowledge the global factors at the core of these issues, and that the need for a calm and considered approach to supply chain issues is imperative in responding to global trade and import disruptions.
But the reality is empty pumps and unfilled diesel orders are adding real stress to farmers working within tight harvest and planting windows.
The Government must provide clear and timely information on how we will get diesel flowing into the regions and what triggers will see further action if these issues continue to persist.
We continue to feed reports from our members directly to Government to ensure their experiences inform decision-making.
We also welcome the ACCC’s announcement that it is moving quickly to investigate allegations of anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers, particularly in the regional diesel market.
At a time of high uncertainty, there is no room for bad behaviour. If misconduct is found, farmers and regional communities expect the ACCC to take strong action.
Ashleigh Whittaker
Stacey Davidson