Budget 2025: Food and grocery manufacturers respond
26 March 2025
The peak body for Australian food and grocery manufacturers is encouraging a food first approach to national policy, highlighting that cost-of-living support works best when paired with a robust cost-of-doing-business agenda.
Following the Federal Budget, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) welcomes the government’s commitment to easing financial pressure on households. However, lasting relief for Australians depends on a strong, viable domestic manufacturing sector that can keep shelves reliably stocked with affordable products.
A cost-of-doing-business agenda would bring in coordinated actions that reduce the financial and regulatory strain on essential industries – boosting efficiency, resilience and competitiveness. For food and grocery manufacturing practical and targeted action would include:
- Government tax incentives to modernise processes in the industry through automation and digitisation
- Investing in more resilient transport infrastructure to protect against natural disaster disruptions
- Ensuring access to stable, affordable energy for manufacturers
- Addressing workforce shortages, particularly in regional and rural areas
The AFGC looks forward to continued collaboration with government on delivering both cost-of-living relief and long-term industry resilience. Supporting essential industries like food and grocery manufacturing will help ensure everyday products remain accessible for all Australians.
For more on the industry’s top priorities, click here.
Media contact
Zandi Shabalala
zandi.shabalala@afgc.org.au
0430 051 575
