Meryl Swanson
Paterson · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The Albanese government is also expanding the Help to Buy scheme, which will help even more Australians achieve homeownership. Under Help to Buy, eligible Australians can buy a home with a deposit of as little as two per cent.”
“We're already seeing the difference that the programs we've already initiated are making. Across my electorate, 2,323 people and families have already taken up the first-home guarantee, helping them purchase a home with just a five per cent deposit. That's 2,323 families that are in homes.”
“Today is a landmark day. Today the Australian Labor Albanese government has reinvigorated the great Australian dream, which—let's face it—was becoming a nightmare, particularly for young people. We have stared down the darkness. This is the cold, hard light of day.”
“More people are choosing to live in regional Australia, and that's pushed up house prices and rental costs, creating real pressure for young people and all people trying to get ahead. I regularly hear from young people who work really hard, and they are saving and they do make sacrifices.”
“In communities like Maitland and Port Stephens, we're seeing pressures that come with rapid growth. Almost 96,000 people now call Maitland home, and we welcome around 2,000 new residents every year. By 2041, that number is expected to reach 145,000 people. Our region's growth is a sign of strength.”
“Importantly, support is also available through the family-home guarantee, which helps eligible single parents purchase a home with a deposit as little as two per cent. For single parents balancing work and family responsibility and the cost of living, this support can make a real difference.”
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“Today is a big day. Today the Albanese government has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against 3M, seeking more than $2 billion in damages relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS contamination, at 28 defence bases across Australia, including RAAF Base Williamtown in my electorate. This issue is deeply personal to my community. It is deeply personal to me. In many respects, I became involved in this issue and ran for Paterson because of it. My community wanted answers, they wanted accountability and they wanted action. Williamtown has been the frontline of the battle from the very beginning. The very first PFAS working group has been established. My community is the pilot community, and our residents are helping shape the national response that will follow.”
“It was a true collaborative experience, and I'm so pleased that we've got a touch of Canberra in Tanilba Bay. But Canberra was shaped by some of the ideas of Halloran as well. Thankfully, unlike some developers today, Halloran saw more than blocks of land. He saw beauty. He saw green spaces. He saw community. And he saw opportunity. Get on to the sound trail at Tanilba Bay. I'm sure you'll be amazed.”
“Thanks to Robyn and the history society, history is no longer simply sitting quietly in books and archives; it now walks beside us, speaks to us and guides us through the very streets and landmarks that have shaped the community. It's right in our headphones or on the speaker in our car. And what a fascinating history it is. Henry F Halloran was a surveyor, and he was a developer and a planner, with enormous ambition for regional New South Wales. In the 1920s, he purchased the Tanilba estate and began transforming it into an incredible area, and today we see the gardens, the stone gateways, the tree-lined streets and the community spaces. In fact, he was closely connected with Sir Walter Burley Griffin, who designed Canberra. In fact, Griffin had earlier prepared plans for Port Stephens, which Henry Halloran then brought to life.”
“What makes this achievement even more impressive is that it's the very first GPS sound trail not only in Port Stephens but across the Hunter and Newcastle regions—a true first. Projects like this don't happen by accident, though; they happen because passionate local people care deeply about preserving history and making it come to life today. In particular, I want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of Robyn Cragg, whose hard work, research, persistence and countless volunteer hours helped bring this product to life. Community history can be, sometimes, a labour of love, and in this case it has truly been a labour of endurance, vision and commitment.”
“Today I'd like to recognise the extraordinary work of the Port Stephens Family History Society and to celebrate the launch of something truly special for our community—the Henry F Halloran Sound Trail at Tanilba Bay. Now, I have to say: this may be one of the few projects where people were actively encouraged to walk away while the speeches were on and the storytelling was beginning! This innovative GPS-activated sound trail allows locals and visitors alike to walk, ride and drive through Tanilba Bay while hearing the remarkable story of Henry Ferdinand Halloran, one of the great visionaries connected to the history of Port Stephens. He truly was a remarkable Australian.”
“It is a chance to recognise and support the incredible products, businesses and industries that are made and produced right here in Australia. I want to thank those businesses for getting up early and for backing Australian workers. When they put their head on the pillow at night, they're thinking about their profit and loss, and I want them to know that they've got a partner in this government that's thinking with them.”
“When that 15 kays of magnificent roadway gets opened, there'll be nothing like it in our region. And it really will be testament to Hunter workers and those people who have joined that construction. It is being made in Australia. Businesses like MGA Thermal, VeraSys, Tomago Aluminium, John Holland Gamuda and Seymour Whyte are not only innovating, adapting and helping shape Australia's industrial future; they're building it right now for us before our eyes. They're exactly the kinds of businesses we should be backing—businesses that are investing locally, employing locally, training locally and helping position Australia as a leader in innovation and advanced manufacturing. Fittingly, last week we celebrated Australian Made Week.”
“If there's one thing that the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz has shown us, it is that being able to manufacture things here really is still so important. While we're talking about manufacturing, I can't go past the magnificent M1. I've stood in this place many a time and spoken about it being the last choke point between Sydney and Brisbane. We are fixing that, and I want to give a big shout-out to those people who have been building that road, the workers for John Holland Gamuda, who are doing the 10 kays south, and the Seymour Whyte employees, who have done an incredible job. Not only has this project come in on budget; it's going to be over 12 months early. That is a remarkable piece of infrastructure building. We talk about being made in Australia.”
“But, most importantly, it will save time. These things are changing the way we modernise and they are increasing productivity, particularly of our ag sector. I can't wait to hear more about VeraSys and those young people, many of whom have come out of the University of Newcastle and are doing really great work. Of course, we can't talk about manufacturing and industry in our region without recognising the enormous contribution of Tomago Aluminium. For decades, Tomago has been one of the Hunter's major employers. It is the largest aluminium smelter in the country. It supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs across our region and plays a critical role in developing Australia's sovereign manufacturing operations, and we know we are going to need more aluminium, not less, in the future.”
“In recent months, two outstanding local businesses, MGA Thermal in Tomago and VeraSys in Medowie, have received support through government programs that are helping innovate Australian companies, which is helping them grow and succeed. MGA Thermal has received support through ARENA, and the funding is going to lead to incredible thermal energy storage technology that is being developed in the Hunter—technology with the potential to transform how we store and use renewable energy. Meanwhile, VeraSys is delivering advanced systems and engineering solutions that are helping Australian agriculture, and it's such an interesting piece of technology. It's a drone that has AI capabilities that is going to be able to fly over crops, identify weeds, do weed mapping and then create solutions for our ag sector to use less diesel and less herbicide.”
“I rise tonight to speak about something Australians care deeply about: making things here, creating good jobs here and ensuring Australia remains a nation that builds, innovates and manufactures for our future. At the last election, the Albanese Labor government made a clear promise to Australians that we would focus on building Australia's future, not just talking about the future but actually building it—building the industries that will power the next generation of jobs, building the skills and manufacturing capability we need here in Australia and building an economy that is stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future. And that's exactly what we've been delivering, especially in my seat of Paterson, but more broadly across our Hunter region, New South Wales and the country.”
“Patience is a virtue. My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What action has the Albanese Labor government taken to help Australian women going through menopause and perimenopause? Why is it important to talk openly about this health issue, Minister?”
“It's about helping women recognise what's happening to their bodies, feel confident seeking support and know that they're not alone. It sits alongside broader women's health reforms from our government, including cheaper menopausal hormone therapies, better clinical guidelines and more support through Medicare. Women deserve to be heard, taken seriously and properly supported, and that's exactly what we're doing. We've been more, we've seen more, we've had more and we are more than we've been given credit for. We're hotter, we're sharper and we're in demand. And, yes, that's the menopause talking!”
“I was elected almost 10 years ago. I was 45 and feeling great, but I had no clue what was coming and no clue what perimenopause was. I was like many women. I just put up with how my body was changing—the weight gain, the hot flushes, the sleepless nights, the brain fog, the hip and shoulder pain and looking for the car keys when they were already in my hand. Like our grandmothers and mothers, women of my generation were short on help and long on stigma. Here's what having more women in parliament can do for a country. This government is changing the way we treat menopause. The Albanese Labor government has launched a new national campaign to make sure women can access clear, trusted and evidence based information about perimenopause and menopause. Frankly, it's about time.”
“My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How will the Albanese Labor government's budget deliver for regional Australia, and how does this compare to other approaches, Minister?”
“At its core, this budget understands something simple but powerful: every person is driven by the same basic needs—shelter; health; connection; bettering ourselves; a safe and affordable home; access to quality healthcare when you need it; and the opportunity to stay connected to family, to community, to work and to purpose. Nimbleness, fairness and bravery in government are essential if we are to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. This government is answering those challenges, and I am proud to be part of it.”
“With a world in a state of flux and marred by conflict, global disruption and rising pressures beyond our shores, we could have used last night's budget to really retreat from these challenges as an excuse for hesitation. We could have curled up into a conservative ball and rolled along with the status quo, using the events of the world as a cover to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Instead, we, as a government, have chosen something different. We've chosen to strengthen our sovereignty, to invest in our capacity to make, to build, to care for and house ourselves, and to secure our place in a rapidly changing global economy—not as passengers on the journey, but as active shapers of it.”
“For the Hunter and New South Wales, it means faster connections and a greater opportunity. Alongside that, we're delivering the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace—a $1.7 billion investment—and we're going to deliver it on budget and more than 12 months early. That's right—early and on budget! That's what an Albanese Labor government does in the regions. Right next door in my neighbouring electorate, we've got the Singleton Bypass, the Hexham Straight Widening and the Newcastle Inner City Bypass—over $3 billion worth of roadworks happening in our region. That's not a government that just delivers with a press release. That's a government where the rubber hits the road.”
“They're delivering—we are delivering. The Maitland Urgent Care Clinic has also opened its doors and is already making a difference for families across our region. Every week around 300 people are walking through those doors to access free urgent care close to home without the long waits of an emergency department or the cost of private care. That's exactly what Medicare was designed to do and exactly what regional Australians deserve. Alongside these local investments, we're backing nation-building infrastructure that will transform regional Australia for generations to come. We've committed $667 million to progress high-speed rail from Newcastle to Sydney, and we are doing the proper planning. This will not be the debacle that we've seen through the Inland Rail.”
“The expansion and opening of our magnificent Newcastle Airport as an international gateway opens up new opportunities for tourism, trade and economic growth right across our region. For too long, communities like ours were told to wait our turn, but international connectivity, economic support and investment shouldn't only be for capital cities—and we know it's not. Our airport is the airport that our region deserves, and that's why a Labor government has delivered it. We have the Kongsberg missile factory that's just under construction in my electorate, a $50 million solar foundry at Black Hill that will create 300 jobs, $1 million for Carrie's Place, supporting women and children escaping family violence and $1.6 million in black spot funding for local roads in Port Stephens. These aren't false promises.”
“Delivering for regional Australia isn't just about major highways and big announcements; it's about making sure our kids have the same opportunities as kids everywhere else, right across the country. Port Stephens Koala Hospital has just received $3 million for groundbreaking research, because we're saving the koalas in regional Australia as well. MGA Thermal, an incredible company, got $3.2 million through ARENA to commercialise cutting-edge energy storage technology that will save energy for businesses in the regions and the cities alike. That means local jobs, local industry and regional economic growth. These aren't promises on paper; they're projects on the ground. They're already being delivered. And, when we look at the last 12 months, the scale of delivery for regional Australia becomes even clearer.”
“And that's exactly what governing for regional Australia should look like. In the last month alone, we've seen significant projects and investments delivered across my electorate of Paterson, all while keeping a clear focus on strengthening regional communities, regional jobs and regional services. The Hunter Veteran and Family Hub that has just been opened is supporting 22,000 veterans right across the Hunter, Newcastle and the Central Coast. Five hundred veterans have passed through the doors, not to mention the 3½ thousand serving Defence personnel from RAAF Base Williamtown and those that serve at Singleton, who are all using this fantastic hub in Maitland. Kurri Kurri has just received new netball courts. Maitland has received the new Max McMahon sporting facilities.”
“If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then under the former Liberal-National coalition government, let me tell you: it was a colour coded origami horror show of press releases and false promises for our regions. The roads, infrastructure and sporting facilities, if they were built—who will ever remember that bastion of regional sport, North Sydney, getting a pool? They took our regions for mugs. The claim that this government has made broken promises and failed regional Australia is patently untrue. It's not what I see in Paterson, and it's not what I see across regional Australia. Regional Australia is not being talked about from a distance under this government; we're here representing it. It's being backed with real investment in real communities with real outcomes that are already changing real people's lives.”
“My question is to the Minister for Resources and the Minister for Northern Australia. How's the Albanese Labor government securing affordable gas for Australian households and businesses, and are there any alternative approaches?”
“My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. What actions is the Albanese Labor government taking to support our farmers and producers to help manage the disruption from the conflict in the Middle East?”
“These are the people who keep the shelves stocked and our economy moving. In my own electorate, we've got businesses like Hills Tankers, a small, family-run business that is supplying fuel to all the coal mines in the Hunter and keeping them going. They're doing it tough, but they're showing up day in, day out. Who is this for? This is for people in Australia who are under strain. For the next three months we'll reduce the heavy road user charge to zero. We'll keep backing those people who keep us moving. We're going to ease pressure on households. We hear you, we see you and we are delivering.”
“The world is in a state of flux, and, while we can't change what's happening in the Middle East, we can impact how it hurts Australian households and how we help them. I've just gotten back from farewelling a friend out west, and I was talking to farmers, truckies, business owners and workers. I heard 'fertiliser' and 'fuel' in many conversations. Everyday costs are rising and hurting people at the pump. That is why this Albanese government is acting. We are halving the fuel excise—cutting 26.3c per litre—and we are doing that from 1 April. It is practical relief. We're doing it in partnership with the states. I want to thank the states. I want to thank the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and the cabinet for taking this action. We haven't forgotten our truckies. Our heavy vehicle industry is under real strain.”
“European customers are discerning. They care about where their food is produced. They care about traceability, animal welfare and sustainability, and these are areas where Australia really excels. By improving access to this market, we're not only increasing exports but showcasing the very best of what Australian ag has to offer. I do want to send a quick shout-out to the prosecco producers, because I know prosecco was one of the really important points of this negotiation. We've kept that very important Italian heritage here, in Australia. We know that it's a really important part of what you do. Thank you for doing it.”
“These are practical, tangible outcomes that will make a difference on the ground. The agreement is also about diversification. In the increasingly uncertain global trading environment we are witnessing at the moment it is more important than ever that Australia broadens its export markets. By strengthening our access to the European Union—the world's second-largest single economy, interestingly—we reduce our reliance on any single market and build greater resilience in our ag sector. For our farmers, diversification isn't an abstract concept. It's about managing risk. It's about ensuring that, when conditions change in one market, there are opportunities to turn to. This agreement helps deliver that security. It also reinforces Australia's reputation as a trusted supplier of high-quality agricultural products.”
“For some products, it will open the European market to Australian exporters for the very first time. It means new customers for our producers. It means greater confidence to invest, expand and innovate, and it means more jobs and stronger economies in our regional communities. Of course, not every product will immediately benefit from full duty-free access. But, even in these areas, the agreement delivers meaningful gains. For products such as beef, sheepmeat, rice and sugar the agreement locks in new and improved access through expanded tariff rate quotas. That is important, because it means increased volumes that can enter the EU market under more favourable conditions—again giving our producers greater opportunity to grow their presence in that market over time.”
“It opens the door to a market of about 450 million high-income consumers—people who value quality, provenance and sustainability, which are all the hallmarks of Australian agriculture. Importantly, it gives our producers a fairer chance to compete. The agreement will eliminate the vast majority of EU tariffs on Australian ag products. That includes key exports such as wine, most dairy and rice products, tree nuts, horticulture, honey, olive oil, processed foods and cereals, like wheat and barley. Removing these tariffs is not just a technical change. It has real, practical consequences. It reduces the price of Australian products on the shelf in European markets. It makes our exports more competitive. It helps level the playing field with other countries that already enjoy preferential access.”
“I went to farewell an old friend, but spent a lot of time with very long-time friends, who are all in the ag sector. They are some of the best people. They produce some of the highest quality food, produce and fibre the world knows. They're efficient, sustainable and innovative. But for too long many of them have faced a simple reality: no matter how good their product is, some of the world's most valuable markets have been effectively out of reach. That's what makes this agreement so significant. For decades, the European Union has been a market that was, in practice, closed to many Australian ag exports. High tariffs and restrictive quotas limited our ability to compete. This agreement changes that.”
“This Australia-European Union free trade agreement—let's face it—has been 10 years in the making. I sit in this place today and hear those opposite bemoan this deal, but they couldn't get one. They couldn't ink a deal with the Europeans. We have. In what could have been a glorious, magnificent Team Australia moment, once again the coalition are carping and being negative. They just can't come to the Team Australia party, and what a shame it is for our farmers. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. As Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries, which until this term was known as the ag committee, I'm constantly reminded of the strength, resilience, ingenuity and grit of our ag sector. I spent the weekend with my friends in western New South Wales.”
“I know this is a matter of balance, but I again want to say to all Australians that fuel is expensive at the moment, and we understand the pressure that you are under. We know we need to continue to listen and to work for you here in Canberra, and that's what we intend to do because that's what responsible government is all about. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 12:21”
“To Andrew and Vicki and their team and every transport operator and worker in Paterson: we hear you, we see you and we know you're under pressure, but we also know that you are doing your bit for our nation at this moment. We are acting decisively and responsibly, and we want to support you because, in times like this, Australians can't be left to carry the burden on their own. We are going to continue to listen, to engage and to act in the best interests of communities like mine in Paterson. I do want to send a shout-out to all of those people who've done the responsible thing and haven't hoarded fuel, haven't bought jerry cans and haven't bought too much fuel. They've done the right thing. But I also get those who have had to buy excess in order to keep their businesses going.”
“We've doubled penalties for fuel price gouging to protect consumers and small businesses, through the ACCC, and we've acted to support the transport sector, allowing truck drivers and businesses to make emergency applications for contract chain orders so rising fuel costs can be managed fairly across the supply chain. Without our truckies, without our businesses like Hills Tankers, supply chains simply don't function. We've also taken steps to increase fuel availability, easing supply pressures at a critical time. This is about being connected and staying connected not just in Canberra but on the ground. We are working directly with businesses, industry groups and communities because they are living these challenges every day.”
“Australians are doing their bit, and they expect government to do the same. And that's why we have not stood still. It's just one part of our broad response. The Albanese government has been engaging directly with industry, listening to businesses like Hills Tankers and acting on their concerns. We've established a national fuel supply taskforce to coordinate our response and keep fuel flowing where it is needed. We continue to have meetings of National Cabinet, and I know the Prime Minister is meeting with the premiers next Monday.”
“It distributes fuel across Australia, supplying retail, aviation and diesel fuels that keep industries operating and communities moving. It is part of the backbone of our economy. I also want to recognise the people behind that success. Andrew and Vicki Hill have built a remarkable family business, supported by a strong leadership team: Shaun and Scott in operations, Helen as chief financial officer and around 330 employees across Australia who keep this business running and our nation running too. But, like so many in the transport sector right now, they are under real pressure. Australians are practical and sensible people. When times are tough, we adapt. We see it every day—people riding motorbikes instead of driving, carpooling and working from home when they can.”
“I rise today to speak about an issue that is front of mind for families, workers and businesses right across my electorate of Paterson and, indeed, across the nation at the moment. It's the ongoing fuel crisis driven by the war in the Middle East. Global events are having real local consequences, from prices at the bowser to the cost of groceries and the viability of transport businesses. This is not an abstract construct. It's happening now, and it's being felt in households and workplaces right across our community. We see you. We know what's happening. In Paterson we are seeing the impact firsthand. One business I want to acknowledge is Hills Tankers, a proud local company that plays a critical role, not just in our region but nationally.”
“We're a reliable partner with LNG and coal, and they know they need to reciprocate those deals—and they are—but we're working constructively with them. We've coordinated nationally, convening National Cabinet, working with states and territories, and activating key emergency coordination mechanisms to ensure that fuel continues to flow where it's needed. And we've been engaging directly with industry every step of the way. This bill is another step in this response, because, when supply and price oversight are critical, we must also ensure fairness within the supply chain itself. If this bill isn't passed in this autumn sitting, the consequences are clear: road transport contractors may be forced to absorb rising fuel costs for an indeterminate period. I thank the House.”
“Importantly, this bill does not alter the independent role of the Fair Work Commission. It respects that role. The commission will continue to assess applications and make decisions independently, but this bill will ensure that in times of crisis it can act with urgency. This legislation builds on the significant steps the government has already taken to respond to this fuel crisis. We've acted quickly to protect Australians, doubling penalties for petrol price gouging and really teething up the ACCC to increase monitoring, enforcement and crackdown. We've acted to stabilise supply, releasing a portion of Australia's fuel reserves. We've adjusted the fuel standards to increase availability. And we've been working with our international partners to ensure that those ships keep coming.”
“This bill amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to ensure that our industrial relations framework is capable of responding quickly and effectively in times of national economic stress. It enables Minister Rishworth, who has worked day and night on this in recent days, to recognise when extraordinary circumstances are having a significant national impact and to trigger an expedited process so that the Fair Work Commission can act more quickly. That means faster decisions on contract chain orders, ensuring that rising fuel costs can be dealt with fairly across supply chains rather than being borne disproportionately by drivers and small operators. It's an important safeguard, and it's a necessary one in times like this. In circumstances like this, delays have real consequences.”
“As we know, the conflict in the Middle East has emerged rapidly and, with it, sharp volatility in global fuel markets. The flow-on effects have been immediate and profound. Fuel prices are surging. Supply chains are under strain. Across Australia, road transport businesses, many of them small and family run, are facing mounting financial pressure, with very little time to respond. Our government sees you, we hear you and we are working with you. The duration and full scale of these impacts remain uncertain. What I mean by that is that we don't know when this war is going to end. But we are working to mitigate the circumstances of it every minute of every day. What is clear is that the consequences are being felt now.”
“So to suggest that we have been flat-footed and had no action is a complete misrepresentation of the action this government has taken. I rise today in strong support of the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, which will again be a piece of legislation that we have worked quickly and adroitly to get through this place to help with the circumstances and a world in flux as we see it at the moment. This is a practical, targeted and time-sensitive reform designed to respond to extraordinary global circumstances that are placing significant pressure on Australia's road transport industry. And I want to give shout-out to the truckies of Australia today. You are turning up, delivering and doing your darndest for our nation, and we thank you for it.”
“I want to counter the assertion that the government has been found flat-footed on the issue of fuel security. You can't suggest that we're flat-footed and then say we're not acting expeditiously enough. Those opposite need to make up their mind about that. It's completely inaccurate and, quite honestly, unfair. I know, having come into this place almost 10 years ago, that we have better fuel reserves now than we had then, under the former government, which saw the closure of refineries and certainly wasn't acting to secure fuel certainty, as this government has done—off the back of what I might say have been extraordinary circumstances the world over. Crude oil has doubled in price in the last month alone, and we've seen an extraordinarily geographically difficult conflict in a strait of water that has been taken prisoner by Iran.”
“They're dealing with increasing costs, managing the stress of an increasingly unpredictable climate and world. It has been a difficult period for many, and we get that. That's why our focus is not just on growth but on support. We're strengthening biosecurity to protect our industries. We're investing in the agricultural workforce and we're backing innovation and sustainability so that farmers have the tools they need to adapt to the changing challenges and conditions because we know that getting it right is so important for our farming futures.”
“Exports are also reaching record highs with agriculture, fisheries and forestry expected to hit almost $85 billion this financial year. That's more Australian produce meeting and reaching more markets than ever before. And that matters to regions like mine and to our country. Our farmers don't just produce world-class food and produce; they underpin our regional economies. And that's why the work we're doing to diversify trade opportunities is so important. By removing trade barriers and restoring access to key markets, including securing the return of $20 billion worth of trade with China, we're making sure our producers have more options, more resilience and more certainty. But I know this government knows that behind these numbers are real people. Behind these numbers are real problems too. People have faced floods.”
“Despite the challenges—despite the droughts, the floods and the increasingly unpredictable weather—there is a very strong story to tell. The latest forecast from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Science—ABARES, as it's affectionately known—shows that the value of Australia's agricultural production is on track to exceed $100 billion—with a B—this financial year alone. That's an extraordinary milestone. It means we are set to meet and exceed the National Farmers' Federation 2030 target four years ahead of schedule. Just a few years ago, it seemed impossible, and we're already beating it. When our government came to office, agricultural production was valued at around $88 billion. Since then, it's grown by 15 per cent.”
“I also saw tens of scholarships awarded to current students—real, tangible support that is helping them stay in their training and education to build their knowledge and pursue careers in agriculture and the agtech services. It was a powerful reminder that, while we often talk about challenges in the sector, there is enormous optimism and so much youthful energy because the next generation of farmers is already in there making and doing. They're learning how to innovate, how to adapt and how to lead. They understand that agriculture today is not just about tradition; it's about technology, sustainability and global opportunity. And that gives me so much confidence in the future of agriculture in regions like the Hunter and in Australia more broadly.”
“I see producers who keep showing up, adapting and adopting, getting on with the job of feeding and clothing our nation and our neighbours in the Asian region. Recently I had the privilege of seeing the future of that resilience firsthand when I attended the graduation at Tocal agricultural college on Friday. There I stood among hundreds of students, young people who've chosen a life on the land or in the agricultural industries. I saw graduates stepping forward with skills, confidence and determination—and some of the best seventies mos and mullets I've seen in a long time, from some of those lads. And the amount of young women was just incredible. These people are embracing agriculture as the future.”