Farmers Call for Fuel Support Amid Rising Input Costs

The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging the Federal Government to deliver a 1.3 billion dollar fuel relief payment to primary producers in the upcoming May Budget.

The call comes as farmers face mounting financial pressure from rising fuel and fertiliser costs, with inflation pushing diesel prices up more than 30 per cent in March.

The federation has proposed a one-off payment based on existing diesel fuel tax credits, allowing support to be distributed efficiently using established reporting systems.

Acting President Peter Star says the measure would provide practical relief for farmers grappling with escalating input costs that are nearing unsustainable levels.

Under the proposal, a grain grower using around 75 thousand litres of diesel annually could receive approximately 40 thousand dollars, offering some financial certainty.

The federation argues the payment would address inequities after the agriculture sector was excluded from previous fuel excise cuts, while helping to stabilise supply chains and limit flow-on costs to consumers.