Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027

Mr NEUMANN (Blair) (13:11): Since coming to office, the Albanese Labor government has delivered for the Australian agricultural sector by strengthening biosecurity, boosting AgForce, opening up new trade opportunities and improving farm sustainability. We're working to diversify trade opportunities to export more of Australia's world-class cultural products than we did before.

We've unlocked $20 billion worth of trade with China and delivered more market access opportunities than ever before for Australian farmers and producers. This has been a game changer in my electorate of Blair as, under the former Morrison government, China imposed import restrictions on two local meat-processing plants—JBS Dinmore in Ipswich and Kilcoy Global Foods based in Kilcoy and Coominya.

Thanks to the efforts of this Albanese government, these were removed in 2024 and two red-meat processors were able to resume exports with China. This government is focused on opening doors for Australian agriculture and processing industries to grow and diversify overseas markets. Between July 2022 and March 2026, the Albanese Labor government recorded 272 market access achievements.

Australia's farm gate production value is forecast to exceed $100 billion this year—years ahead of the National Farmers Federation target. The opposition spent nearly a decade eroding and neglecting our relationships with many of our trading partners, and Australia's reputation suffered as a result. We're getting those relationships back on track and opening opportunities.

My question to the minister is: how will the Albanese Labor government continue to support and secure more market access for our agriculture exporters, including red-meat processors in my electorate? The government is backing the beef industry to ensure a stronger, sustainable profitable future for our producers and regional communities. We provided record funding for Beef Australia, including $12 million to deliver a bigger and better Beef 2027 in Rockhampton, in my home state of Queensland.

This underscores our commitment to Australia's almost $16 billion beef industry, which is our most valuable agricultural exports. Beef and veal were Australia's third-largest agricultural export commodity to Indonesia in 2025, valued at $581 million—a figure which has grown 49 per cent since we came to office. My question to the minister is: What is the government doing to support beef producers and processors in my electorate, and elsewhere, to export world-class products?

How is the government assisting them to diversify their export markets to provide our farmers with the best platform for continuing growth? The Albanese Labor government is also working with stakeholders delivering the PALM scheme, a reliable and productive source of labour for employers that is particularly beneficial and safe for workers. Under the Albanese government the PALM scheme has continued to grow, from about 8,000 workers in March 2022 to more than 32,500 this year.

Now, 29,000 of those workers are across agriculture and meat processing, including at JBS Dinmore and Kilcoy Global Foods. Importantly, the number of long-term workers has increased significantly in both agriculture and meat processing. So we're getting on with the job—strengthening PALM, investing in skills and training, and adding occupations to the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List—while working with the industry to address ongoing challenges.

We're also investing $440 million, from 2022 to 2027, to expand and improve the PALM scheme. I know this is a win for Australia but also for many of our Pacific neighbours—including, for example, the Solomon Islands. We've had the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands here in the last few days.

I met him at Brisbane Airport recently and raised this topic with him. The number of employers participating in the scheme is at a record high, with 130 new employers joining since the deed and the guidelines were introduced, in July 2023, bringing the total number of employers to 537 as of February 2026. How is the PALM scheme going to help our local farmers?

I also want to talk about our national food security strategy, Feeding Australia. The government has undertaken consultation and received 400 submissions. We've established the National Food Council, and we've also got a national food supply chain assessment going on.

The Lockyer Valley and Somerset Water Security Scheme, in my electorate, is very important, with the capacity to deliver a 50 per cent increase in irrigation water for agriculture and horticulture. They made a submission to Feeding Australia. Minister, my question is: can the government update the House on the progress of the National Food Security Strategy?

Finally, I also want to know where we're going on fertiliser and fuel security for our farmers, our producers and our fishers.