Albanese and Dutton urged to visit southwest Victoria and South Australia drought zone

With the election campaign already half over, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are being urged to visit drought-hit farmers in southwest Victoria and South Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are being urged to visit drought-stricken South West Victoria in the final fortnight of the 2025 election campaign.

National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke has called on Labor and the Coalition’s leaders to head to South West Victoria or South Australia’s southeast to witness the impact of ongoing rainfall deficiencies.

“I encourage all leaders to get around and visit the key areas of concern. It would mean a great deal if those leaders actually showed some compassion to those facing the challenges of drought,” Mr Jochinke said.

In its latest drought statement, the Bureau of Meteorology said for the 24-month period since April 2023, which includes the last two cool seasons, areas with severe or serious rainfall deficiencies extended across South West Victoria, agricultural regions of South Australia, parts of southwest Western Australia and along the west and east coasts of Tasmania.

Mr Albanese visited Longreach in Queensland earlier this month to meet with flood victims, telling them “we have your back”, while Mr Dutton travelled to outback western Queensland in late March to promise millions for a new weather radar in an area were several towns were inundated with floodwater.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail, touring flood damage near Longreach, Queensland. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

But neither have indicated they will visit regions experiencing severe drought conditions that appear to be flying under the radar this election.

Mr Jochinke acknowledged that it was difficult for politicians to respond to concurrent flooding and drought with a “one-size-fits-all package”.

“Droughts are not like a fire or a flood, so because of its slow, insidious nature, it evolves over time and it’s a challenge capturing and maintaining the media’s attention.

“It’s that insidious creep across a region that strangles farms slowly,” Mr Jochinke said.

But Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said it was a natural disaster of equal measure impacting people’s lives and livelihoods.

“It’s up to candidates what they choose to do but I’m certain there are lots of farmers and communities who would really appreciate knowing they’re being thought of,” Mr Hosking said.

“Sometimes I wonder if droughts are in the too-hard-basket for politicians.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail in Queensland. Picture: Jason Edwards

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said the Prime Minister or Opposition Leader were welcome to visit his South West Victorian farm or the farms of other UDV members hit by drought.

“Farmers are a welcoming bunch. As long as they don’t just come with words, they follow it up with some real help,” he said.

“They say it’s the worst drought in southwest Victoria since 1967, but the longer it goes on, it’s probably passed ‘67 and the worst since the early 1900s. It’s been a long, long slog and there’s no relief in sight.”

Earlier this month, South Australian dairy farmer Peter Whitford told The Weekly Times he had never seen it so dry on his Myponga farm since starting in the mid-1950s.

“I remember the lead-up to Ash Wednesday in 1982 and 83, it was dry then. Also the 2000s drought. There were at least patches of rain here and there whereas this time around, there’s been hardly a day of rain. The dry conditions over the past year or so beats them all.”