The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has released its report for its inquiry into food security in Australia. The inquiry examined ways to strengthen and safeguard Australia’s food security, focussing on production, supply chains and key inputs, as well as climate change, biosecurity and food insecurity.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 7 December 2023

The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has released its report for its inquiry into food security in Australia. The inquiry examined ways to strengthen and safeguard Australia’s food security, focussing on production, supply chains and key inputs, as well as climate change, biosecurity and food insecurity. Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson MP, said: ‘Despite Australia being one of the most food secure countries in the world, recent developments both at home and abroad have shown that food security presents real and growing challenges to the nation.’ ‘Food security is not something that any of us can take for granted. COVID-19, floods, the effects of the war in Ukraine, and outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease in Indonesia have highlighted risks to our food system. Systemic change is required so that all Australians, and those that depend on Australian food production, will be food secure. Consultation, cooperation, coordination and innovation are the keys to food security.’ Ms Swanson, said. The Committee has made 35 recommendations to address food security in Australia, including: creating a comprehensive National Food Plan; appointing a Minister for Food; establishing a National Food Council; developing a National Food Supply Chain Map; measures to facilitate innovation in the production of food; and measures to eliminate food waste. The report also proposes measures to improve sustainability and resilience in the food supply chain, improve access to labour, and reduce food insecurity. Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee held 24 public hearings, visited numerous sites around Australia, and received 188 written submissions from individuals, industry and community groups and government bodies. The Committee would like to thank all those who took part in the inquiry by providing written submissions and giving evidence at public hearings or hosted the Committee on site visits. The Committee is particularly grateful to those who took time out of their days to host the Committee at various sites around the country and the insights this provided into the work of providing for the food security of Australians. The full report can be found on the Committee’s inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Belinda McNab, Media Adviser, Office of Meryl Swanson MP Meryl.Swanson.MP@aph.gov.au 0407 655 594 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4500 agriculture.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has today commenced an inquiry into food security in Australia and is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 26 October 2022

The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has today commenced an inquiry into food security in Australia and is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders. Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said that food security was a growing issue nationally and internationally, with population growth, war, weather and climate all posing risks to the availability and accessibility of food. ‘While Australia was one of the most food secure nations in the world, recent events such as the pandemic and widespread floods have shown that we cannot take anything for granted. Input shortages and disruptions to the global supply chains that Australian producers depend on are likely to have a significant impact on the productivity and profitability of the sector. More importantly, these factors will have a direct impact on the cost of living for all Australians’, Ms Swanson said. The Committee will examine ways to strengthen and safeguard food security in Australia. In particular, it will focus on local food production and the impact of supply chain distribution on the cost and availability of food. The Committee is also interested in exploring the impact of climate change on food production in Australia. Ms Swanson said that ‘while climate change poses a continual risk to farmers, the Committee is keen to see how agricultural producers are adapting and innovating in response to these climate challenges.’ Submissions to the inquiry will be open until 9 December 2022. Further information, including the Terms of Reference can be found on the Committee’s website. Media enquiries James Bartlett, Media Adviser, Office of Meryl Swanson MP Meryl.Swanson.MP@aph.gov.au 0418 468 072 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4500 agriculture.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.