Farmers for Climate Action welcomes release of 2026-27 Budget
FCA acknowledges investment in EPBC implementation, nature repair markets, and fuel and fertiliser security for farmers
FCA expresses concern that the measures contained within the budget fail to match the scale of the climate challenge
Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) has welcomed the release of the 2026-27 Federal Budget, acknowledging some positive outcomes for agriculture and noting that the Budget clearly identifies climate change as a continued drag on productivity.
"On the positive side - we welcome funding for the establishment of the new national Environmental Protection Agency and EPBC implementation, investment in Nature Repair Markets ($36.9m), the commitments to fuel and fertiliser security, and investment in bioregional plans and assessments, alongside the $40m commitment to the roll out of fast EV charging networks and the $1.1b cleaner fuels program." said FCA CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt.
"We also welcome targeted funding to strengthen integrity in Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), but note that this is relatively small investment."
"There are some positive measures in this budget. However, our early analysis indicates the Budget reprioritises or reduces projected funding for several programs related to agricultural climate adaptation, drought resilience and low-emissions agriculture."
"Our analysis also suggests delayed or reprioritised spending across elements of the climate, energy, water and environmental portfolios. This comes at a time when the National Climate Risk Assessment has warned of escalating costs from climate‑driven disasters."
"Australian farmers are at the frontline of climate impacts. The 2025 National Climate Risk Assessment identified that disaster recovery costs could rise significantly without effective adaptation."
"Despite some welcome measures, this budget fails to match the scale of escalating climate risk facing Australian agriculture, and it fundamentally fails to deliver material changes like a fair tax on Australia's gas exports; or ensuring the sustainability of the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme for farmers by capping it for companies receiving over $50m in FTCS per year."
Harden farmer Peter Holding said "Farmers need fuel security, and we welcome the supply chain resilience supported in this Budget. But it's important that we also deal with the biggest long-term issue facing Australian agriculture — climate change"
FCA will continue to work through the Budget to understand the detail, and will engage constructively with the Government, the Opposition, the crossbench and farming peak bodies on the gaps identified in this Budget, with a particular focus on adaptation, resilience and on‑farm electrification
