Moves to further consult with small scale pastured pig and poultry farmers on Victoria’s contentious new planning laws have been welcomed by the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) president Tammi Jonas.
Ms Jonas said Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford had promised further consultation, before the implementation of the new laws, due within the next six months.
She said the the minister had assured her Agriculture Victoria staff would continue the consultation process, before a decision was made.
“She said she was aware the concerns pastured pig and poultry farmers had not been directly represented - and directed her staff to consult further,” Ms Jonas said.
“That is excellent news.”
She said many producers had made the point the significant changes to the planning provisions would harm small farmers.
“As they are currently written we will all be treated same - industrial and intensive pig and poultry farms and small pastured pig and poultry farms,” Ms Jonas said.
Baynton small-scale pastured poultry farmer Alex Sims, Hand to Ground, said the proposed planning laws were a direct threat to the viability of his business.
He has 600 broiler and egg laying hens on his property.
“The whole reform started from the Happy Valley free range chicken case, but instead of rectified the issues that triggered that whole scenario, they have gone and codified the regulations.”
Happy Valley Free Range owner Jo Stritch, Wandin North, had to move from the suburb – near Lilydale – after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled her nine hectare farm was “intensive” and not a permitted use, in the green wedge zone.
“It seems really sloppy, it doesn’t look like they have taken into consideration all the concerns that were put forward,” Mr Sims said.
“The reforms aren’t structured to favour, protect and back the best interests of small sale pastured poultry and pig farmers.”
He said the proposed reforms appeared to give “zero recognition” chickens and pigs could be run in a “genuinely” pasture based system.
Mr Sims said another concern was that he would have to acquire the same permits, and go through the same application process, for a person setting up a large battery hen operation, with hundreds of thousands of chickens.
“There is absolutely no recognition there is scaleability on the stocking density or animal waste, there is no recognition there is a difference.”
“It’s far more complex than it needs to be,” Mr Sims said.
Ms Jonas said she was preturbed by a response from the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), which seemed to “evade” the issue.
A department spokeswoman said public consultation, which concluded in November last year, saw more than 170 submissions lodged by councils, organisations, farmers and members of the community.
“During the consultation period, the department met with a number of pastured pig and poultry farmers and undertook a number of farm visits,” the spokeswoman said.
“Additionally, the Planning for Sustainable Animal Industries Implementation Reference Group (IRG) has been established to oversee the implementation this program, and is comprised of representatives from the pig industry, small farmers and community members.
“In developing the proposed reforms, the department consulted with a range of stakeholders including Tammi Jonas.”
All submissions were being considered against the government’s commitment to balance economic growth animal industries with community amenity and environmental concerns.
“Where appropriate, changes to the proposed reforms to address the issues raised in the consultation will be made,” the spokeswoman said.
But Ms Jonas said the response seemed to be “dismissive”, as small-scale pastured pig and poultry growers were not represented on the Implementation Reference Group (IRG).
“The only small farmers on the IRG are hobbyist cattle farmers - and the Minister acknowledged this gap and assured us that we will be consulted,” Ms Jonas said.
‘By ‘we’ I mean AFSA - not me - I am the president of an organisation that represents hundreds of small-scale farmers across Australia.
“It would be a lot more reassuring to see them acknowledge this”
The point here is I am president of a representative body, that has a democratic process and represents our members; when they talk to me they are talking to hundreds of small scale growers.”
