Rate relief on the agenda for new Rural Assistance Commissioner

Mr Touhey's appointment comes on the back of a recent announcement of additional funding for drought relief, including $5.24million to the Mildura, Wellington and East Gippsland councils.

Read more: Farmers in Gippsland and north-east Victoria to receive $31 million in drought funding

"Part of the package that went to local government is to deal with rate relief, so I have to work with farmers and local government, to see how that is going to happen," Mr Tuohey said.

"That will be the challenge, to try and make sure there is some rate relief that comes from that."

He said while it wasn't hard to target rate relief in the north-west, where there were fewer "lifestyle" properties, it was an issue that could present problems in Gippsland.

"Relief is not intended to support lifestyle properties, running a handful of sheep and a few cows," he said.

"The intent is to support commercial farmers.

"Local local government probably needs a bit of direction on how they pick and choose those farmers that are in need."

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said Mr Tuohey, a former Victorian Farmers Federation president, would provide advice to government on how to best support primary producers and communities.

She said Mr Tuohey would provide insight on the challenges and opportunities facing regional and rural communities.

Responding to ongoing drought and dry seasonal conditions, challenges within parts of the dairy industry and opportunities to boost Victoria's agriculture output would be a key focus for Mr Tuohey.

The Victorian Government has announced $31 million for drought-affected farmers in the driest parts of the state.

"Peter Tuohey's appointment is a great outcome for country Victorians," Ms Symes said.

"His track record with the agriculture sector speaks for itself - he will be a huge asset in making sure rural communities have the support they need.

"I look forward to working closely with Mr Tuohey while we continue supporting rural communities, particularly those experiencing difficult seasonal conditions and transitions within industries like dairy."

Mr Tuohey said he initially planned to meet farmers and community members in drought-affected regions, such as the Millewa, Gippsland and the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District to make sure funding and drought assistance packages that had been made available were working, effective and helpful.

"I'm looking pretty much to the future, to make sure farmers have risk mitigation in place, to make sure they can plan for future droughts or shocks," Mr Tuohey said.

"I'll be trying to help them get a handle on that, to help them adapt and change, particularly the way climate change is affecting them."

He said he intended to catch up with the minister or a regular basis.

"It's not too hard to get to see her and let her know what's happening," Mr Tuohey said.

"I'll certainly be in the office of Agriculture Victoria on a weekly, if not fortnightly, basis."

Mr Tuohey, who has a mixed farming operation at Pyramid Hill, said thought the position was a good idea.

"I know what it's like to go through a drought and financial hardship, so I think that was why I wanted to do it," he said.

"(I also) think there needs to be something done around drought, better than what is happening now, going into the future."

Opposition Agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said he hoped Mr Tuohey would be frank and fearless in his advice, to the government.

"Labor may have put him on the payroll, but at the end of the day it's taxpayers' dollars and Mr Tuohey's job is to stand up for our regional communities," Mr Walsh said.

He said the government's arrogant neglect of regional Victoria was getting worse, every day.

"This year alone the regional development budget has been cut by $130 million, and the Regional Growth Fund and other regional support programs have all run dry," Mr Walsh said.

"Ms Symes has stalled reappointments for Victoria's Regional Development Australia committees, meaning our regions are missing vital representation in key lobbying roles."

Mr Walsh criticised what he said was the government's repeated rejection of rates subsidies, for drought-stricken farmers.

"The transformative Murray Basin Rail freight project has been botched by Transport Infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan, and meanwhile five of our regional passenger rail lines have failed their punctuality targets every single month for two years straight.

"With the government's arrogant neglect of regional Victoria, there's no shortage of issues for the new Commissioner and I to discuss when we meet."