Victorian Farmers Federation wants regions built up
Big ticket road and rail upgrades that entice new residents to the country should be the backbone of the state’s bid to kickstart the economy. Investment in the regions could have big rewards, says Victorian Farmers Federation CEO David Jochinke.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Farmers are renowned for their resilience and ability to stare down adversity and overcome what seems like at times overwhelming odds, to prevail on the other side.
Like many industries in Victoria, it’s safe to say that agriculture has and continues to face our fair share of challenges this year.
Victorian farmers have battled drought, devastating bushfires and now the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which have combined to result in our state’s first recession in almost three decades.
However, as much as these issues are creating problems for farmers and those in the country, agriculture and regional Victoria could not be better poised to help lift the state out from its economic woes.
If anything, COVID-19 has shown the resilience of regional Victoria. The upside of getting the regions up and running initially is enormous- not just for agriculture, but for Victoria as a whole.
Victoria is the nation’s food bowl. As an industry sector we are worth almost $40 billion to the Victorian economy.
We are Australia’s largest producer of food and fibre, the nation’s largest exporter and we have the ability to grow that further.
We just need to enable the government thinking and policy to ensure the regions can be a vehicle for economic growth and genuine investment in critical infrastructure. A clear economic vision is required that leverages our reputation for producing and exporting the world’s cleanest, greenest and safest food and fibre product There’s an undeniable city and country divide on big-ticket infrastructure projects, especially when it comes to hard infrastructure such as road and rail investment. These are genuine nation building opportunities that can supercharge Victoria’s shrinking economy and accelerate our push towards economic prosperity.
Project such as the Murray Basin Rail Project which would enable enhanced freight efficiencies throughout not only Victoria, but also link the Victorian network to those interstate are ready to go, we just need a commitment from government.
It’s infrastructure such as this that would not only enhance our ability to transport Victoria’s world class food and fibre to port for export markets, but also inject millions of dollars into the regional economy and create thousands of sorely needed jobs in the process.
Regional Victoria has shown its ability to absorb the shock of COVID-19 and look forward towards economic growth relatively quickly. As much as we need to think about big-ticket
infrastructure builds, we also need to recognise the potential for rural areas to not only retain
its population, but also entice new residents to the country.
One of the major barriers and problems for people looking to move or already living in the country is the lack of soft infrastructure services that currently exist in Melbourne. Services such as affordable telecommunications, technological capabilities, health and education are all lacking in rural areas and are vital towards making and sustaining a thriving regional community.
It’s crystal clear the agriculture industry can accommodate demand for work. We are recognised as an industry with a skills shortage in a time of increased demand for work. It’s a case of enabling the areas looking for workers with the means and capacity to do so.
If can we can get commitment from government to deliver a standard for all Victorians, the liveability of the regions will attract community and economic growth The time to invest in regional Victoria is now and by doing so we can spur an economy desperately looking for an economic jump-start.
The longer we wait to do so, the longer we delay our return to economic prosperity.
David Jochinke is CEO of the Victorian Farmers Federation
MORE NEWS
THE PLAN TO REBUILD VICTORIA AFTER CORONAVIRUS