VANGUARD - Expressing the viewpoint of the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist)
For National Independence and Socialism • www.cpaml.org
(ABC Rural: Clint Jasper)
Trump’s illegal war on Iran is hurting Australia’s farmers, workers and consumers. Australia’s farmers are facing shortages of petrol and diesel fuel in many rural areas at a time when they are normally getting ready to sow this season’s grain crops.
Another problem facing farmers is the high price of urea fertiliser which farmers need for their crops. Prices of urea have doubled to around $1600 per tonne. This is because Australia imports around 95% per cent of its urea requirements-about 3.8 million tonnes. 69% of this comes from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz, currently blocked thanks to Trump. Farmers are alleging price gouging, but the ACCC says that price rises in response to supply shocks or shortages are not illegal.
There is no significant production of urea fertiliser in Australia. Gibson Island in Brisbane, the last major plant producing urea in Australia, shut down in 2022 due to high prices for the gas which is necessary for the production of urea. It is much cheaper for Middle Eastern countries to produce urea, thanks to their lower gas prices.
Australia is also reliant on imports for 99% of its Ammonium Sulphate fertiliser, and 85% of its DAP/MAP fertilizer. (DAP is Diammonium Phosphate, MAP is Monoammonium Phosphate.)
If farmers cannot secure the diesel fuel and fertiliser they need to put their crops in, consumers will soon face higher prices for all products based on grain, such as bread and pasta. Stock feed for pigs and chickens will also be much dearer, meaning higher prices for chicken, eggs and pork at the supermarket.
Livestock transport companies have already raised their rates for livestock cartage by at least 25% to cover the higher price of diesel fuel. Agricultural experts are predicting that many grain farmers will only make a very small profit from their harvest because of the high prices of diesel fuel and fertiliser.
An independent Australia would ensure that there was adequate local production of fuel and fertiliser to protect Australian agriculture from disruption to supply lines.