News

AMS advocating for growers as supply pressures increase

The Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) continues to actively monitor fuel supply challenges affecting regional Australia and is advocating on behalf of growers through national industry channels.

We are speaking with growers daily and gathering direct feedback on fuel availability, delivery delays and pricing pressures to ensure real on-ground impacts are clearly communicated.

We are also working closely with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and yesterday participated in a government roundtable briefing on the evolving situation. While fuel continues to arrive into Australia, there is growing uncertainty across many regions, particularly for independent fuel suppliers who rely on the spot market, where supply has significantly tightened or ceased.

There is increasing industry concern about the availability of fuel through these independent distribution networks, which many growers rely on. Industry bodies are calling for government action to ensure fuel continues to flow where it is needed most.

These impacts are being felt across agriculture, with strong recognition at government level of the potential risks to harvest operations, planting windows and broader food production. With macadamia harvest underway, reliable access to diesel is critical for orchard operations, machinery use and transport. The ramifications of diesel shortages also extend throughout the supply chain, with transport levy surcharges increasing significantly.

The Federal Government has released part of the national fuel reserve and established a Fuel Supply Taskforce to improve coordination and response. AMS supports this move and is calling on the taskforce to ensure geographic and sector-specific measures are in place so diesel supply is prioritised for farms and the food supply chain.

AMS will continue working with the NFF and other industry bodies to ensure the needs of macadamia growers are clearly represented as the situation develops, including reinforcing the need for a reliable and prioritised diesel supply for agriculture.

We need your input

Timely, on-the-ground feedback from growers is critical to ensure industry impacts are accurately communicated to government.

If you are experiencing:

• fuel delivery delays

• restricted supply

• challenges securing fuel for harvest operations

• significant cost increases, for both diesel and in associated transport levy surcharges

please let us know.

Call 1800 262 426 or email [email protected] to share your experience.