13 May 2026.
Queensland producers remain under significant pressure despite some positive measures in last night’s Federal Budget, including recognition of fuel security, export support and indications the Government has listened to producer concerns around family trusts and taxation arrangements.
However, AgForce says the Budget ultimately falls short of delivering the targeted, immediate support Queensland producers need at the farm gate.
AgForce General President Shane McCarthy said farmers are continuing to grapple with escalating operational pressures, relentless increases in input costs and ongoing natural disaster impacts.
“While it is encouraging to see the Government respond to producer concerns about family trust and taxation arrangements, many Queensland farming businesses will still be asking where the direct farm-gate support is".
AgForce said further detail was still needed to understand how proposed exemptions would apply across the diversity of family-run agricultural enterprises and succession planning arrangements, while continuing to advocate for an increase in the thresholds for Small Business Concessions and Exemptions to better reflect the realities of modern agricultural businesses.
“Queensland producers are facing a perfect storm of rising costs, supply pressures and increasing uncertainty. This Budget fails to recognise that agriculture is not operating under normal conditions,” Mr McCarthy said.
Measures aimed at strengthening national fuel resilience, including additional fuel storage initiatives, were welcomed, but AgForce said long-term fuel security strategies must directly include agriculture and regional Queensland.
AgForce CEO Niki Ford said farmers were already dealing with fuel shortages, fertiliser supply pressures, rising freight costs and growing uncertainty around production decisions.
“The Budget had little immediate support for producers who are making tough operational and planting decisions amid escalating costs and supply uncertainty. Generic cost of living measures offer limited help where producers have no ability to pass on rising costs,” she said.
“Production decisions being made now will have real consequences on all Australians in the months ahead, particularly with producers having no option but to scale back production,” said Ms Ford.
Beyond immediate cost pressures, AgForce said the Budget raised important issues for producers across biosecurity, workforce and environmental regulation, with some welcome measures but ongoing concerns.
In terms of biosecurity the Budget provided a mixed result, with welcome investment in some border protection and response activities, but real concern about reported reductions to pest and disease preparedness programs.
Mr McCarthy said biosecurity preparedness must remain a national priority. “At a time when Australia faces growing threats from pests, disease and invasive species, biosecurity preparedness must be strengthened, not diluted,” he said.
AgForce said it would also continue to closely monitor the Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation reform agenda, including the establishment of a new environmental protection agency, to ensure producers are given clarity and certainty around future compliance expectations.
Mr McCarthy said, “It’s critical agriculture has a genuine seat at the table throughout the reform process, with producers needing practical, workable policies that recognise the realities of food and fibre production alongside environmental outcomes.”
Queensland producers are resilient, but resilience alone cannot carry the weight of rising costs, supply pressures and increasing uncertainty.
While there were some positive measures in this Budget, it ultimately fell short of delivering the targeted support Queensland agriculture needs to maintain production, protect regional jobs and safeguard Australia’s food security.