It’s hard to believe half of January has dashed by. I hope everyone enjoyed some relaxation over the Christmas period and managed, in between farm duties, to spend quality time with family and friends.
Sadly, this year has been marred by many tragic deaths, including in our waterways and on-farm. It serves as a timely reminder to all of us to focus on safety. Making sure we are always putting safety ‘top of mind’.
In a recent meeting to discuss the Victorian Farmers Federation’s key issues with our new Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, I spoke about the importance of workplace health and safety, including our need for resources to support a campaign to drive significant cultural change.
We had a productive discussion, covering a breadth of subjects including: the need for dedicated, agriculturally-aware police officers; the need for funding to upgrade and maintain our roads; a long-term energy plan; and the need for better planning laws that recognise important agriculture land particularly around renewable energy.
I also addressed the VFF’s burning issue of rural rates. I reminded the minister of the Andrews’ Government promise to review our rating system. The need for the appointment of an independent panel, to detail current systems in operation in Victoria and explore systems in place in other states of Australia and in like-minded countries.
The VFF expects this process to be complete by the end of May to enable recommendations to be implemented by July 1.
I am looking forward to a busy and productive 2019 that delivers outcomes that make a tangible difference to the bottom line of our farming businesses.
This year marks the VFF’s 40th anniversary – a significant milestone for a modern day advocacy body. I look forward to celebrating this with you in due course.
- Victorian Farmers Federation president, David Jochinke
