Far South Coast farmers are demanding the Federal Government act immediately to prevent a shortage of diesel in the region.
A number of local service stations have run out of the fuel over the past week or two creating fear our primary producers and truckie’s will be forced to grind to a halt.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin made their concerns very clear yesterday at a crisis roundtable discussion on the issue.
“It was important to bring the rural experience in front of senior government ministers to reinforce the need for urgent action,” Mr Martin said.
“The NSW Government has shown leadership on this issue, and we have strongly urged ministers to make sure that food supply and production is a central component of a broader crisis response,” he said.
“The need for urgent action from state and federal governments is vital to ensure that agriculture has access to critical farm inputs including fuel and fertiliser.
“Despite the messaging that there is enough supply in the system, this is not the lived experience of many across rural and regional NSW who are facing daily decisions about how to use their remaining supplies.”
The peak body for Far South Coast farmers issued a stark warning to Sydney motorists who are stockpiling diesel.
It comes amidst reports of Sydneysiders even filling up wheelie bins full of the fuel for their SUV’s and utes.
Mr Martin said if they want to take all the diesel supplies they better get ready to starve.
“More than 90% of the energy that’s used for trucks and tractors that to get all these food and fibre items in the shops, they run on diesel,” he said.
“This is all about diesel Minister Chris Bowen, please get our farm fuel tanks filled tomorrow.”
