CITY dwellers are being urged to swap their cars for public transport and the government to make public transport free as the fuel crisis lingers.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said fuel shortages affect rural communities very differently to metropolitan households, where farming operations rely solely on critical fuel to grow their products.
“For most Victorians, a fuel shortage means cancelled plans, longer queues and a tighter weekly budget,” he said.
“For farmers, timing is everything.
“Farming runs on narrow weather windows, and if the tank is empty at the wrong moment you can’t just wait for prices to settle, you lose the opportunity, and sometimes the entire crop.
“Keeping farmers moving is in everyone’s interest.
“Victorian farmers grow almost a quarter of Australia’s food and feed millions more across the globe.”
The VFF said small changes in commuting behaviour across Melbourne could make a meaningful difference.
“If just one in five Victorian car commuters shifted to public transport, the fuel saved would be enough to plant roughly half of Australia’s wheat, barley, canola and lentil crop,” Mr Hosking said.
“A little would go a long way.
“Even taking one or two trips a week on the train, tram or bus instead of driving can leave more fuel in the system for the jobs that keep supermarket shelves stocked.
To encourage the switch in commuting behaviour, the VFF has called on the Victorian Government to make public transport free across Victoria until supply stabilises, and to run more services, more often, especially at peak times.
“When the dust settles, the government needs to take a good hard look at the numerous warnings they’ve ignored that’s left us in this predicament,” Mr Hosking said.
“For now, we’re asking for a helping hand to grow the food and make sure it gets to where it needs to go.”
