RWTA Driving Cold Chain Representation in National Food Security Strategy

The RWTA is actively working with a broad group of industry organisations to make sure the Australian Government fully understands one thing: you can’t have food security without a strong cold chain.

Recently, we joined more than 20 key stakeholders in a coordinated industry discussion, helping shape a joint position that has now been put directly to the Minister for Agriculture. This is a serious, collective push to get the right settings in place and to make sure our sector is front and centre.

There was strong alignment across the industry on a number of priorities.

First, food security starts with getting the basics right—reliable access to critical inputs like energy, fuel and infrastructure, all of which are essential for refrigerated operations. Fuel, especially at present, is an ongoing problem. Even when the price goes down, it will unlikely go back to where it was. *As of the 6th April 2026, GlobalPetrolPrices lists Australia’s diesel at USD 1.90 per litre versus a world average of USD 1.58 per litre. So Australian diesel is currently well above the global average.

There was also clear agreement that food security should be treated as a national security issue, creating a real opportunity for the cold chain to be recognised as critical infrastructure. At the same time, industry is pushing for a shift in how government views the sector, not just as something to regulate, but as delivering an essential service for the public good that requires appropriate support. Strengthening biosecurity systems and improving regional resilience, particularly around the energy/ water/ food connection, were also highlighted as key priorities.

This work matters directly to RWTA members. It’s about getting proper recognition for the role you play, strengthening the case for investment, ensuring regulation is practical and workable, and ultimately improving resilience across the entire cold chain.

RWTA is actively representing the sector in these discussions. We are working closely with major industry groups, bringing real operational insight to government, and making sure decisions reflect how the cold chain works on the ground.

The bottom line is simple: if the cold chain fails, food security fails. That message is being heard, and we’re making sure it sticks. We’ll keep you updated as this progresses.