While I'm reluctant to believe anything Foreign Minister Penny...

While I'm reluctant to believe anything Foreign Minister Penny Wong says, she's in 'The Australian this morning:

"Penny Wong has reassured Malaysia that Australia will be a “reliable supplier of wheat and meat” as fears mount over a food crisis as a result of the Ukraine invasion...

...“I think the consequences of what’s occurring in Ukraine are obviously strategic but they are also economic and one of the points we discussed in the meeting was Australia continues to be a reliable supplier of wheat and meat at a time when global supply chains have been constrained,” Senator Wong said.

“Obviously as a comprehensive strategic partner we will work with Malaysia, if required, on any issues they have in terms of their supply constraints arising out of the conflict in Ukraine.”

Australia’s commitment to help its comprehensive strategic Partners with food supply issues will be welcomed as Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged G7 nations meeting in Germany this week to allow the reintegration of Russian food and fertiliser exports into global supply chains to prevent serious food shortages in the region.

Australian wheat producers have warned that – despite another bumper harvest – logistics issues and high freight costs mean they cannot plug the massive gaps in global wheat supplies caused by the Ukraine conflict, which is expected to leave many countries desperately short..."