Senator: Farmers need support on emissions, not blame

Senator Sarah O'Reilly stated that farmers are making significant progress in reducing emissions and require practical support rather than being blamed for climate challenges. She highlighted that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) figures indicate the agriculture sector could see emissions fall by up to 19% by 2030, based on planned government policies. These projections are attributed to measures like reduced fertilizer use and adoption of lower-emission technologies. O'Reilly emphasized that farmers' efforts should be recognized and matched by government supports that lower both emissions and costs. She specifically called for the removal of VAT on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel used in agriculture, noting that HVO currently costs 15-25 cents per litre more than conventional diesel. Farmers pay 13.5% VAT on green diesel but 23% on HVO, and removing VAT on HVO would make the transition to greener fuel more affordable. O'Reilly believes such a step would be mutually beneficial for agricultural workers and the government, providing positive incentives for environmental progress.