Portfolio — 13 June 2026

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins finalised changes to the Agricultural Exports Cost Recovery Implementation Statements on 12 June, reshaping how the federal government funds the export certification and compliance services on which Australian farmers and producers depend [TA-260612-agricu-fb7fecc48e1b]. The central policy decision is a deferral of the phased transition to full cost recovery for those export services until 1 July 2027, with the Middle East conflict cited as the disruption justifying the delay.

The move signals that industry will not bear the full cost of export services on the original schedule, with the Commonwealth instead absorbing the gap through supplementation funding. Agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports are forecast to reach a record $86 billion in 2025–26, making the continuity and affordability of those department-delivered services a live commercial question for exporters [TA-260612-agricu-fb7fecc48e1b].

The government has committed $138 million in supplementation for the three years to 2025–26 and flagged approximately $57 million in further supplementation across 2026–27 to 2028–29, including $8.2 million in new Budget funding directly tied to the deferral decision. The framing across the media release pairs fiscal prudence — the deferral is temporary and time-bounded — with responsiveness to industry, noting that updated fees and charges were shaped through consultation.

Collins signalled the portfolio's ongoing intent to work with farmers and producers on new market-access opportunities and trade diversification, situating the cost-recovery adjustment within a broader export-growth agenda.