Albanese Labor Government secures first shipments of additional farm fertiliser

Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell
Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP

The Albanese Labor Government has secured approximately 90,000 tonnes of agricultural grade urea for Australian farmers, producers, and our agriculture industry to keep Australia’s food supply chain moving.

Through Export Finance Australia (EFA), the Government has partnered with CSBP and Incitec Pivot to support the purchase of these first three shipments of additional fertiliser.

These are the first shipments of fertiliser secured under the Albanese Labor Government’s new Strategic Reserve powers, as part of the Government’s work to help Australia’s agriculture industry manage the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East.

More shipments are expected to be secured in the coming weeks.

This additional supply builds on the 250,000 tonnes of new fertiliser supply locked in with Indonesia through PT Pupuk, secured by the Albanese Labor Government in partnership with Incitec Pivot.

This extra fertiliser gives greater certainty for farmers as they make planting and growing decisions, ensuring domestic and export food supply.

Under the new Strategic Reserve powers, EFA is also progressing discussions with other businesses in order to help them secure, ship and distribute fertiliser into our domestic market.

In addition to these new fertiliser shipments, the Albanese Government has also announced: 

• $7.5 billion for the establishment of a Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility to increase supply and storage of fuel and fertiliser by providing financial support including loans and price support.
• A Joint Leaders’ Statement with Brunei Darussalam committing to cooperation on food security and resilient supply chains for food production.
• Establishing a Fertiliser Supply Working Group between Government and industry.
• Streamlining border processes for imported fertiliser.

So far, the Albanese Government has secured over 450 million litres of additional diesel and 100 million litres of additional aviation fuel under new financing to keep Australia moving.

Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re backing Australian farmers and producers during this time of global uncertainty.

“We know how critical fertiliser is for the sector, which is why we’re securing important additional shipments like this.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell:

“This is another example of the Albanese Government providing practical and timely assistance to Australian farmers at a time of intense global supply disruptions.

“Our hard-working farming communities can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned to help secure the inputs needed to keep them moving and produce the best food and fibre in the world”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:

“Underwriting additional shipments of fertiliser is about ensuring our farmers can continue producing the food we all love and rely on.

“This is positive news for our farmers and means they can continue planting with confidence during this current season and know that additional supply is on the way for the future.

“Having access to critical inputs like fertiliser underpins the food security of Australia and the countries we export to, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, which is why we’ve been working day and night with industry to get fertiliser to our farmers.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Tim Ayres:

“This is the Albanese Government building Australia’s resilience – through timely, practical and responsive action to secure vital agricultural fertilisers and keep Australia’s food supply chain moving.”