Drought taskforce aims to guide future relief

PREMIER Jacinta Allan visited Ballarat last Friday for the third meeting of the State Government’s drought response taskforce.

Ms Allan is the chair of the taskforce, which includes representatives from the State Government, local governments, and the banking and agricultural sectors.

The role of the taskforce is to provide advice on further help for farmers and impacted businesses and communities. It has previously met in Camperdown and Shepparton.

Although no specific relief measures were announced on Friday, Ms Allan said discussions from the taskforce will guide future measures to be revealed in coming weeks.

“Over the course of the last three meetings we’ve had wide-ranging discussions but also too zeroed in on some key areas about identifying particular industries and regions that are under pressure,” she said.

“The south-west part of our state continues to be identified as the highest priority in our consideration, also too discissions around the banking and finance sector.

“Our task now as government is to go and take on board what we’ve heard… we will be undertaking that work in the next few weeks in terms of shaping the government’s next stage of support.”

Changes implemented by the taskforce so far include establishing a drought freight network to allow more grain and fodder to be transported to farms and fast-tracked permits for kangaroo control.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said the meeting included genuine conversations, and that he is hopeful to see practical changes.

“I think the conversations happening in that taskforce room have been incredibly honest and incredibly frank and open,” he said.

“The real challenge I suppose, and it’s a challenge for this government, is what’s next.”

The State Government announced an expanded package of drought relief measures last month including $5000 grants to support on-farm drought management improvements or $10,000 in the south-west or parts of the West Wimmera.

Eligible activities under the grant program were expanded to include water carting and pasture re-establishment.

Primary production properties will pay an Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund contribution capped to the same amount as last financial year.

Regional Cities Victoria representatives were present. Chair Shane Sali, the mayor of Greater Shepparton, said there’s much to do.

“The state is relying on Victoria’s regions for food and fibre products to boost the state’s economic prospects – that’s why direct relief to farmers continues to be our priority,” Cr Sali said.

“We have consistently – with our taskforce counterparts Rural Councils Victoria and the Victorian Farmers Federation – sought additional support measures including council rate relief and an increase to the on-farm drought infrastructure grants.

“We look forward to further announcements from the Victorian Government in the coming weeks.”