There’s nothing respectful about abandoning farmers under immense financial pressure who can’t even afford to feed or water their animals

If only the suffering of Victorians due to the drought inspired as much passion in Jacinta Allan as a harmless prank designed to bring attention to issues in rural communities.

Victoria’s urban rural divide isn’t just geographic, it’s also a political, economic and increasingly a values-based divide.

The Jacinta Allan government’s neglect, some would say disdain, for rural communities was evident this week as volunteer firefighters and farmers gathered on the steps of Victoria’s parliament to protest Labor’s expanded emergency services tax.

Thousands of volunteer firefighters and farmers joined this week’s protest against the tax. Picture: William West

They travelled to Melbourne’s CBD from all corners of the state to demand Premier Allan scrap a tax that will cause significant pain to farming communities, particularly those under severe economic distress due to one of the worst droughts in the state’s history.

At a time when Victorian farmers are destroying tens of thousands of dairy cattle because they can’t afford to feed them, the Allan government is imposing a crippling tax increase that is expected to see bills rise by an average of 189 per cent, that translates to tens of thousands of dollars for some farmers.

But the premier seemed more concerned with a little stunt involving a small, carefully wrapped box of cow manure delivered to her office than the very real hardship her government is causing.

The Jacinta Allan government’s neglect, some would say disdain, for rural communities was evident this week. Picture: Getty

The little box of cow poop, complete with a note saying: “Dearest Jacinta, I have considered your levy and here’s my feedback, it’s bulls***. Love Brutus + family” was delivered with the help of Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Nicole Werner who escorted the gift-bearing farmer to Allan’s office.

Premier Allan called the stunt “disgraceful” and “flat-out offensive behaviour.”

She wasn’t done yet claiming “workplace safety” was compromised “because a couple of Liberal politicians acted in a disgraceful, inappropriate way in a workplace, in the parliamentary workplace.”

The parcel of cow poo delivered to Jacinta Allan’s office.

The package was delivered with the help of Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Nicole Werner.

“I condemn that behaviour,” she said.

“I call on him (opposition leader Brad Battin) to either condemn this behaviour, or is he going to back his backers who did this disgraceful act?”

If only the suffering of Victorians due to the drought and her government’s gross ineptitude inspired as much passion in Allan as a harmless prank designed to bring attention to issues in rural communities that many in the media consistently ignore.

Allan will be disappointed to learn that the Vic Libs appear to have moved on from the days of John Pesutto who attacked his own MPs for fighting the good fight.

Opposition leader Battin is refusing to condemn McArthur and Werner. “I will focus on the fact that I have spoken to so many farmers who are so angry out in the community,” he said.

“If this (stunt) changes the message and gets them (the government) out to speak to them, then maybe that’s a positive.”

Bravo.

What a refreshing change from the quisling antics of Pesutto who likely would’ve moved to censure or expel the MPs perhaps after accusing them of associating with people who may have associated with others who once shared a platform with someone undesirable.

Brad Battin says if the poo parcel stunt gets the government out to speak to farmers, then maybe that’s a positive. Picture: Getty

But while Battin stuck fat, shadow treasurer James Newbury was all too eager to turn his sights on his Liberal colleagues rather than maintain pressure on the premier.

“It’s always important to be respectful in your debate, and what happened was inappropriate,” Newbury said.

There’s nothing respectful about abandoning farmers under immense financial pressure who can’t even afford to feed or water their animals.

There is nothing respectful about the pitiful relief package offered by the Allan government that is entirely inadequate.

And, there is nothing respectful about the economic vandalism that has seen Victoria record the biggest in the country with an annual interest bill set to pass $10bn.

McArthur has been a passionate advocate for Victoria’s agricultural sector which produces 23 per cent of the nation’s output, just a little behind NSW.

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of Victoria’s economy and food security,” she said. “Feed and water are now so scarce it’s difficult to keep animals alive.

“Without immediate support, the risk to rural livelihoods and supply chains is profound.”

On the manure stunt, McArthur, one of the more astute media players in the opposition, has been unapologetic.

“Labor MPs are acting like they’ve never seen cow s**t before,” she said. “Maybe they don’t get out of Melbourne much … If they are genuinely more upset about a pile of manure than the total mess they’ve made of their budget and this state, it’s no wonder Victoria’s going broke.”

That’s how it’s done.

Originally published as There’s nothing respectful about abandoning farmers under immense financial pressure who can’t even afford to feed or water their animals