Farmers’ boss calls for urgent relief on bills, rates for drought-stricken producers

Rate relief and help with ongoing farm costs must be addressed in any support package for drought-ravaged communities, according to Victorian Farmers’ Federation boss David Jochinke.

Rate relief and help with ongoing farm costs must be addressed in any support package for drought-ravaged communities, Victorian Farmers’ Federation boss David Jochinke says.

Gippsland farmers are calling for help on their debt interest bills and for municipal rates to be waived amid the driest two-year streak on record.

VFF president David Jochinke said the Andrews Government would be “foolhardy” if an anticipated rescue package did not deal directly with the urgent needs of farmers.

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“What we have been calling for is for the government to take control of fixed costs,” he said. “Farmers have also reallocated their priorities, they’ve worked through the issues, but it’s the fixed costs, like carting water, rates, and feed which really hurts,” he said.

“There really must be urgent relief for those things — there are plenty of things on the table, but it’s at crisis point now.

“Farmers can deal with the good times and the bad, but when the drought is extended like it is, it’s very hard for anything to survive.”

VFF president David Jochinke says an anticipated government-funded rescue package must deal directly with the urgent needs of farmers.

Giffard farmer Trent Anderson said the entire region — including Giffard, Stradbroke, Woodside and Briagolong — could have to be ­de-stocked if it was to recover.

He said freight subsides to move cattle and sheep, including to agistment in Tasmania, would be welcomed.

“The paddocks are bare — just dirt — and without rain anytime soon I’m not sure how they can possibly recover,” he said.

“Most are already in containment, and the price of feed is crippling most of us.”

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes will visit the region, about 2½ hours east of Melbourne, on Friday.

She told parliament yesterday the state government had delivered 55 drought-related workshops in Gippsland, along with 46 one-on-one consultations with farmers.

Nine more workshops in Gippsland were planned for March and April.

She said climate change was causing “significant challenges for farmers” and would “continue to make life harder”.

But she said it was “not all doom” as there was “huge demand” for Victorian agricultural products, both in Australia and overseas.

Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh said the minister must not turn up empty-handed.

“The time for talk and visits is well passed,” he said.

“Farmers made it clear before last November’s election that they want the state government to step up and provide financial relief in the form of council rates subsidies.”

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