Victorian election: Coalition pledges to create soil research body

The Coalition pledged big bucks to Agriculture Victoria at a VFF conference that the Premier failed to attend.

A soil research body dubbed VicSoil will be established by the Victorian Coalition if it wins office at next month’s state election.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Victorian National Party leader Peter Walsh pledged today that $100 million would be spent over a decade to set up the new entity.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Mr Walsh said VicSoil would work with the Federal Soils Cooperative Research Centre to examine Victorian-specific soil research and development.

The Coalition party leaders made the announcement at the Victorian Farmers Federation symposium in Melbourne, with state Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney appearing via video-link.

“It’ll be $100 million over 10 years; it’s important that researchers have guaranteed funding over a long period of time,” Mr Walsh said.

“Base research is not something you necessarily see the results from in one year, or two years or even five years but actually when you do base research, other organisations can take that research to market, and there’s a lot of good private consultants that can take that research to market and make sure it delivers with particular soil types.

“It is good business, it’s good for the environment – if we can store more carbon in the soils as a lot of people aspire to. It would also stop the brain drain out of Agriculture Victoria.

“Because one of the organisations that’s lost out from this government in funding is Agriculture Victoria.”

A State Chemistry Laboratory was once based in central Melbourne, then moved to Werribee, but lost funding under the Kennett government.

VFF president Emma Germano expressed her disappointment that Premier Daniel Andrews did not also address today’s symposium.

“Just to be really clear – we absolutely invited both sides of politics,” Ms Germano said.

“In fact, I wrote two letters to the Premier telling him we often get a bit of a wrap at the VFF, being told that we only favour one side of politics.

“But we always try to be nonpartisan, though we don’t say we’re apolitical. We try to create that political influence (on behalf of agriculture).”

Ms Germano said a state disaster declaration was needed immediately to free up funding for flood-hit communities.

“The Victorian Government must work with the Commonwealth and declare a natural disaster in flood-affected areas,” she said.

“It’s clear many will face a substantial cleanup and we must support them as a priority.”

“Support is what’s needed and our local communities need that now.”

Earlier this week, Ms Tierney announced a $23 million cash injection into the state’s biosecurity response, as concerns linger over a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia.

Funding will go towards the recruitment of biosecurity experts, field-based operational roles and provide training to a workforce tasked with preparing for any biosecurity outbreak.