The Federal Government is facing renewed pressure over its response to Australia’s wine industry crisis, with the Nationals accusing it of ignoring warnings from growers and winemakers.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Trade Minister Matt Canavan, alongside Shadow Agriculture Minister Darren Chester, has called for a fresh review into whether excess wine stockpiles could be converted into ethanol to help ease fuel supply pressures.
The wine sector is grappling with a structural oversupply, with around 262 million litres of wine currently in storage. The crisis is being felt in wine regions across the country.
Canavan said the Government’s response to an industry inquiry was already outdated by the time it was delivered, arguing the urgency of the situation had not been recognised. He said conditions had changed significantly, particularly around fuel supply, and the potential use of surplus wine should be reconsidered.
