AS the race for power in the next Victorian parliament draws to a close Stock & Land report Dannika Bonser met with current agriculture minister Peter Walsh to discuss policy and the major sticking points for the State's rural voters.
Peter Walsh
A former tomato farmer, Victoria's current member for Swan Hill has held the State's agriculture and water portfolios for the past four years.
He is also the deputy leader of the Nationals.
Markets for the future
During the current term Mr Walsh set the goalposts at doubling Victoria's food and fiber production by 2030.
Exports increased by 12 per cent in the past financial year to $11.4 billion.
While the $17.5b target is still a long way off, Mr Walsh claims continued research and development will be able to increase productivity to meet the goal.
"On our trade missions - from a food and beverage point of view - we've had 600 businesses go with us overseas, which has generated about $1.5b worth of extra sales.
"None of the other States does that business-to-business work that we do.
"Labor hasn't recommitted money to the successful programs we've run (worth more than $100b) and it's saying $20 million is a good deal."
Coal-seam gas (CSG)
Despite a report commissioned by the current government declaring CSG mining a good thing for Victoria and its economy, the Napthine government has stood by a moratorium on the practice until the middle of next year.
The Coalition is now awaiting the results of a study done on Victoria's groundwater reserves, due early next year, before making a decision on whether the moratorium should stand.
"We won't do anything that puts the quality of quantity of our water at risk.
"If there are risks then we won't be proceeding."
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI)
The Coalition is satisfied with the performance of the newly formed DEPI on its watch.
"I think that by putting the two departments together it's improved its interaction with stakeholders.
"About 59 per cent of staff are regionalised compared to 52pc when we came into government."
Delegating more decision-making back to the regions was also on the horizon for the department, he said.
While some people have criticised the lack of extension done by DEPI, Mr Walsh said the balance was right between research and extension and in future educating agribusiness consultants as a conduit to farmers would be a better mode of information extension.
"DEPI's role is not to be a private consultant to an industry," he said.
See this week's edition of Stock & Land for more State election coverage.
Dannika Bonser
Journalist for Stock & Land.
Journalist for Stock & Land.
