Media Release | 21 April 2026
Lachlan Hunter MLA
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food, Lachlan Hunter MP has called on the Cook Labor Government to urgently prioritise fertiliser vessels through Western Australia’s ports, warning delays could jeopardise the State’s seeding season and agricultural output.
Mr Hunter said Western Australia’s farming system operates within tight seasonal windows, and any disruption to fertiliser supply has immediate and compounding consequences for crop establishment, yield and food production.
“Fertiliser is not optional for our farmers, it is essential,” Mr Hunter said.
“We are right in the middle of critical seeding windows across regional Western Australia. If fertiliser vessels are delayed at port, it flows straight through to paddocks, productivity and ultimately the State’s economy.”
Mr Hunter said he has written to the Minister for Ports calling for fertiliser vessels to be prioritised through Western Australia’s port system and has also written to the
Minister for Agriculture seeking urgent clarity on the Government’s response.
“I wrote to the Minister for Agriculture almost a week ago and there has still been no confirmation of a formal briefing to regional Members of Parliament,” he said.
“At a time like this, a lack of communication and coordination is simply not good enough.”
Mr Hunter said the Government had already acted to prioritise fuel shipments during recent supply concerns but had failed to provide the same urgency for fertiliser, despite its importance to agriculture.
“You cannot prioritise fuel on one hand and ignore fertiliser on the other,” he said.
“Both are critical inputs. Both keep the economy moving. Both need to be treated with urgency, especially at this time of year.”
Mr Hunter said there was a lack of transparency around what direction, if any, had been given to port authorities to ensure fertiliser vessels were being fast-tracked through berthing and unloading processes.
“Farmers deserve to know what the Government is doing to make sure fertiliser is getting off ships and into supply chains without delay,” he said.
“This is about practical coordination between government, port operators and fertiliser suppliers to avoid bottlenecks and keep product moving.”
Mr Hunter said any hold-up at ports risked creating a ripple effect across the agricultural supply chain, at a time when farmers are already facing pressure from input costs and seasonal conditions.
“The reality is simple. If fertiliser is late, production suffers,” he said.
“The Cook Labor Government needs to get ahead of this and ensure fertiliser vessels are prioritised through Western Australia’s ports, just like fuel, to support our farmers and protect the State’s agricultural output.”
ENDS
