Brett Hosking meets with Premier Jacinta Allan over fire levy, drought

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking says a meeting with the Premier has been productive. Here’s why.

More drought support and rejigging the Emergency Services Levy have been canvassed in high-level talks between Victoria’s top farmer and Premier Jacinta Allan.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking met with the Premier in Melbourne for their first face-to-face meeting since the controversial levy passed through State Parliament earlier this month.

After thousands of farmers and firefighters rallied on Spring Street to oppose the levy, Mr Hosking said today’s talks were the strongest sign yet that the government was open to legislative or regulatory changes.

“It’s not often rural Victoria walks to the steps of parliament and says ‘enough is enough’,” he said.

“What was positive about the meeting with the Premier was that she’s keen to mend that rift, bridge the divide between city and country.

“The ball is in the Premier’s court now. She gave us a good hearing, it was a productive meeting. We clearly outlined why the Emergency Services Levy is so unpopular in rural Victoria. I pointed out to the Premier, on cents per CIV (capital improved value), our farmers pay more than four times than a residential landholder and how the current settings aren’t even close to what’s needed to address that balance.”

Earlier this month, the Victorian government widened the drought zone from the previously designated southwest footprint to encompass parts of central Victoria, Wimmera and west Gippsland.

In his meeting with the Premier, Mr Hosking said there was a need for a multi-tiered approach to drought support.

He said water cartage subsidies and one-off drought payments to farmers to stimulate rural communities were two of several policy suggestions canvassed.

“The footprint of the drought across Victoria is getting larger by the week, ask any farmer,” the VFF president said.

“Obviously, parts of southwest Victoria have been in drought roughly two years whereas it's a newer situation in other parts of the state, so having a two-tiered or three-tiered approach to drought support, acknowledging the duration and severity of drought is different in different parts of the state.”

The Premier said she welcomed discussions with the VFF and left the door open to further drought assistance.

“As someone whose neighbours are farmers, I know many are doing it incredibly tough - with unseasonably dry conditions putting real pressure on many communities,” Ms Allan said.

“I’ll always continue listening to farmers and we are closely monitoring conditions across the state including liaising with farming communities and industry - if more needs to be done, we will do so.”

Premier Jacinta Allan and Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking

EARLIER TODAY

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins is headed for South Australia to witness drought stricken parts of the state first hand.

The Tasmanian MP will visit farms around Mount Compass, in the state’s south, to meet with farmers battling ongoing drought conditions despite a smattering of rain on Monday.

Ms Collins will announce the federal government’s Future Drought Fund communities program has been given a $36m, four-year extension to help farming communities to maintain their social resilience during times of drought.

An additional $800,000 will also be provided to Rural Financial Counselling Service providers in SA and Victoria, broadening access to the service in parts of the country most affected by the persistent lack of rain.

“I understand that so many South Australian farmers are doing it tough with these harsh conditions, which is why I have made this visit a priority,” Ms Collins said.

“Farmers on the ground know the land the best and I’m keen to hear from them directly about what they’re facing. “

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins will visit Mount Compass in South Australia’s south to assess the drought. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The Weekly Times understands state Agriculture Minister Ros Spence will visit southwest Victoria in the coming week to meet with farmers and community leaders.

Earlier this month, Ms Spence widened the drought zone to include West Wimmera, Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians, Hepburn, Moorabool, Ballarat, Towong, Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, Cardinia, Baw Baw, Casey and South Gippsland shires.

State funding to drought zone farmers currently focuses on dollar-for-dollar water infrastructure but primary producers, including Port Campbell region farmer John Tregea, say water cartage costs should be state subsidised.

Originally published as Brett Hosking meets with Premier Jacinta Allan over fire levy, drought