Economics References Committee

Sean Bell

At the request of Senator Hanson, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 23 November 2026:

The issue of skyrocketing grocery prices, with particular reference to:

(a) the overall increase in grocery prices over the last 25 years, with and without substitution;

(b) fuel vulnerability and price impacts on inputs and transport from the shutdown of domestic refineries;

(c) international fertiliser price spikes and domestic fertiliser production capacity;

(d) increased regulatory burden and costs to farmers from red, green and blue tape;

(e) the long-term increase of power prices under the last 25 years of net-zero policies;

(f) the proportion of Australian agricultural farmland controlled by foreign corporations, family-owned ventures and cooperatives;

(g) the amount of money extracted overseas by farmland owning foreign corporations;

(h) the challenges faced by farming cooperatives in the modern market;

(i) market abuse by supermarkets;

(j) the increased cost that climate reporting and general regulatory compliance is placing on farmers;

(k) the amount of agricultural land required to be given up for carbon sequestration and the impact on national food and fibre production; and

(l) any other related matters.

Sue Lines

The question is that business of the Senate No. 2, standing in the name of Senator Hanson, be agreed to.