STATE member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan, Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey and NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh are united in the urgent call for the Federal Government to address the growing fuel crisis across regional New South Wales.

Incredibly, when questioned in Budget Estimates on Monday, Minister for Regional NSW and Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, confirmed she had made no representations to her federal colleagues.

When asked for a timeframe on when she would speak to Canberra, Minister Moriarty replied: “I see this (the Budget Estimates hearing) as speaking to my federal colleagues.”

NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said farmers and regional business owners are understandably worried about price gouging and running out of fuel within the next week, if not days.

“It’s deeply concerning to hear today that Minister Moriarty hasn’t yet, and has no plans to contact Canberra on this issue,” Mr Singh said.

Media reports suggest large metropolitan fuel suppliers are being prioritised over independent operators who service regional, rural and remote communities in New South Wales.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture Brendan Moylan said many regional suppliers have contacted him saying they are either being refused supply or being charged through the roof for fuel.

“These operators report their deliveries have been cut back or cancelled entirely, with indications that supply is being prioritised to large metropolitan operators,” Mr Moylan said.

“Independent distributors are often the only reliable source of fuel for our smaller towns and agricultural operations. Any disruption to their supply risks shortages, price spikes and significant impacts on farming, freight and local economies.”

Mr Moylan has made urgent representations to the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia, Chris Bowen, on behalf of the NSW Opposition.

“The NSW Minister for Agriculture should be doing the same thing,” Mr Moylan said.

Mr Moylan has been contacted by numerous independent fuel suppliers who service regional, rural and remote communities in NSW with reports of large metropolitan operators being prioritised over regional distributors.

“Since Friday, many regional suppliers have contacted me saying they are either being refused supply or being charged through the roof for fuel,” Mr Moylan said.

“Those of us who live in regional areas feel this more than anyone. We don’t have the option of jumping on a train or ferry, so when fuel prices go through the roof it hits families, farmers and small businesses straight away,” he said.

“Fuel security is ultimately a responsibility of the Federal Government, but I am deeply concerned the NSW Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarity hasn’t yet had any contact with Canberra on this issue.

“I have made urgent representations to the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia Chris Bowen requesting they urgently sort this out.

“The NSW Minister for Agriculture should be doing the same thing,” Mr Moylan said.

Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey said fuel supplies are being kept for cities.

“The US-Israeli war on Iran is not even two weeks old and already I am getting calls from farmers and independent bulk fuel suppliers who have had access to their diesel and petrol brought to an immediate grinding halt,” Mr Chaffey said.

“There is fuel, but it is being kept for the city, a short-sighted approach that will have huge flow-on effects throughout regional areas and right back into the city.

“Planting is about to start across the electorate of Parkes and elsewhere but without diesel, it won’t happen. And how do farmers get their livestock to market?

“No diesel equals no crops and livestock. No crops equals no food, no income and no jobs. And when that supply drops, prices will of course surge – even in the city,” he said.

“Farmers should not be facing this level of impact so early in this conflict. It shows how vulnerable we are, and long-term decisions need to be made to ensure we can stand alone.

“But more immediately, why hasn’t action already been taken? The Nationals are calling on the Government to provide farmers with guaranteed access to necessary fuel supplies so they can keep producing the food that our country needs. This is a national food security crisis, and if it is not resolved urgently, all Australians we feel the consequences.

“Where is the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen on this critical issue, and where is the reassurance that the Albanese Government has this in hand? It is within the Minister’s power to identify farmers, manufacturers and the transport industry as customers at risk of fuel shortages, and it is time he did so,” Mr Chaffey said.