The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said today’s drought announcement by the Allan Labor Government failed to deliver the immediate support farmers have been calling for and desperately need.
“Farmers need help right now and this does little to address their needs,” Ms Broad said.
“The Labor Government supported the Nationals and Liberals’ motion in Parliament this week to assist drought affected farmers. I urged them to identify other areas of rural Victoria, including the north-east and central Victoria, also experiencing significant drought conditions, and to provide immediate targeted help to drought-affected areas, including subsidised water supply for agricultural purposes and financial assistance with fodder and water delivery.
“Now the government must urgently deliver that support.
“People do not want to get handouts, but they need a fair go and they are running out of options. Their paddocks are bare, dams are dry and the cost of transporting hay and water is climbing by the week.
“Right now there are people selling their livestock and paying $500 a tonne for feed and thousands carting water just to keep stock alive.”
The Government said it would double drought resilience infrastructure grants and defer the emergency services tax on agricultural land for a year.
Ms Broad said while this sounded helpful, it would not help farmers who are at breaking point.
“Delaying Labor’s emergency services tax is simply delaying an unjustified and unfair tax on Victorian producers, regardless of whether there are drought conditions or not. The tax should be scrapped entirely.”
Ms Broad said the Government was out of touch with farmers.
“The Allan Labor Government still doesn’t understand that many farmers simply don’t have the available money to build a new shed or clean out a dam that can’t be filled until it rains.
“The latest drought package also falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months.
“Many areas of the state currently experiencing critically low rainfall conditions are still ineligible for drought grants – a baffling oversight that leaves struggling farmers without support when they need it most.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
