Australia’s grain sector is facing mounting pressure from fragmented regulations and infrastructure constraints that limit productivity and competitiveness. In a recent submission to Treasury ahead of the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable, GrainGrowers has outlined a suite of reforms designed to strengthen resilience and unlock growth across the industry.

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel stressed that building a more productive and resilient agricultural system is not only vital for farmers but also “an economic imperative and foundational to long-term industry sustainability.”

The submission identifies several priority reforms:

• Right to repair for agricultural machinery: Legislation to enable cost-effective maintenance and improve competition, reflecting Productivity Commission findings.
• Streamlined road access rules: Reform of the Performance Based Standards process to improve freight efficiency, safety, and emissions outcomes.
• Tying federal road funding to gazetted road access: Ensuring infrastructure funding directly supports critical freight routes.
• Rail safety upgrades: Adoption of rotating beacon lights on trains and deployment of Rail Active Crossing System technology to reduce risks and regulatory burdens.
• Broader primary producer definition: Expanding eligibility to ensure fair access to emerging income opportunities.
• Seasonal workforce solutions: Streamlining migration processes to relieve labour shortages and boost on-farm productivity.
• Clearer vegetation management agreements: Improving bilateral arrangements to reduce uncertainty and risk for farmers.

According to Gawel, these reforms are firmly in the national interest. “Reforms in these areas would deliver high productivity outcomes for the Australian economy, while increasing economic resilience to the current volatile global trading environment,” she said.

The call for reform comes at a time when global markets are increasingly unpredictable, driven by trade disruptions, climate challenges, and geopolitical shifts. For one of the world’s most export-oriented grain industries, policy alignment and infrastructure efficiency are critical to sustaining Australia’s role as a reliable global supplier.

Australia plays a pivotal role in the world wheat market, thanks to its vast farmlands and strong export orientation. Its production cycle, opposite to that of the Northern Hemisphere, makes Australia a stabilizing force in balancing global wheat supplies and trade flows. USDA forecasts that Australia’s 2025/26 wheat production will drop to 31 Mt (from 34.1 Mt in 2024/25), while exports could range between 23–25 Mt depending on evolving conditions.