Drought support for Vic farmers

Agriculture minister Peter Walsh signed off on his department working with their federal counterparts to secure a lifeline for Victorian producers, and both levels of government have now agreed on the terms of the relief package.

“This is good news for Victorian farmers, with many doing it increasingly tough as dry conditions have taken hold in parts of the State, especially around the West and North West,” Mr Walsh said.

“Prior to the Victorian government entering caretaker mode, I signed directions for the Department of Environment and Primary Industry to work co-operatively and quickly with the Commonwealth government to ensure these funds are made available as soon as possible."

Businesses which already have Farm Finance Concessional Loans can apply to transfer to a Drought Concessional Loan, however the time frame of when funds will be made available are still unclear.

“It is also important that farmers know that in addition to the Drought Concessional Loans, loans to undertake debt restructuring and productivity enhancement activities are also available through the Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme", Mr Walsh said.

“I encourage any farm businesses doing it tough already to start talking to Rural Finance.”

The help comes after repeated calls for assistance by farming lobby groups such as the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).

Last week VFF president Peter Tuohey said parts of Victoria were as dry as those in Queensland and northern NSW, and that concessional loans were needed to finance next year’s crops along with purchasing stock feed and carting water.

"We've got farmers with failed crops and others who have run out of stock water," Mr Tuohey to Fairfax Media earlier this month.

"It's a season where farmers have invested heavily on the back of a good autumn break, only to see the tap turned off and crops fail across the northern Wimmera and Southern Mallee regions."

On Monday (prior to the announcement), shadow Victorian Agriculture Minister Jacinta Allan said the Coalition had been slow to act on the matter.

“This is not something that’s happened over night, there have been signs that farmers in the North West were going to face some problems quite a while ago, and it’s disappointing the government and Peter Walsh haven’t responded quickly enough.

“These are farmers who have been doing it tough for months and it’s pretty clear the government has dropped the ball on responding to their needs.”

Despite this position, the Labor party have not announced a drought relief policy of their own, citing it is too difficult to deal with the federal government on the issue from State opposition.

Ms Allan’s office has been contacted for further comment on the issue.