Ros Spence on one year as Victoria’s Agriculture Minister

As Ros Spence ticks over one year as Victorian agriculture minister, we talk to her about her biggest decision to date.

In his book called The Rainmaker, Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau told his colleague Keith Davey “the essential ingredient of politics is timing.”

While being a rainmaker would make the job of Victoria’s Agriculture Minister a lot easier, Ros Spence has certainly heeded the Trudeau timing truism.

The same week as the calendar flips over to mark one year of Ms Spence in the primary production portfolio, she announced arguably her biggest decision to date.

Alongside Premier Jacinta Allan, Ms Spence confirmed more than $13 million in targeted funding for southwest Victoria’s green drought.

Better known as Australia’s butter dish, the usually emerald region is fast becoming a dust bowl after an ordinary autumn developed into a worrisome winter.

Ms Spence said the drought funding was aimed at the twin challenges raised by farmers in the region — aid for water infrastructure as well as refreshed mental health support.

“Because the area is not prone to drought — it usually has pretty good rainfall — there isn’t necessarily the same infrastructure there as we see in other parts of the state,” she said.

“(Other parts of Victoria) badly affected by drought in the past and have had previous support for infrastructure investments.”

Southwest leaders, including Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett, had called for several months for Ms Spence to visit the region.

Rural Assistance Commissioner Peter Tuohey journeyed to the region in August and Ms Spence followed in September.

Ros Spence (centre) with Agriculture Victoria officials and southwest Victorian farmers during a tour of the green drought zone in September.

She said both tours formed the basis of this week’s package.

“People were really generous and open with what they were experiencing. So I came back (to the office) did some more work on that, briefed my cabinet colleagues and as a result we’ve got a support package that will go to the key issues affecting the farmers.

“There’s clearly not only financial stress and pressures but also the emotional toll this is taking. It needed to be approached from both angles.”

Apart from drought, another issue recently placed in the ministerial desk out-tray was wild dog and dingo controls.

Last month, Ms Spence extended wild dog control in northeast Victoria and Gippsland until January 2028. It means Victoria’s 20-odd doggers will be able to continue baiting, trapping and shooting wild dogs on crown land within 3kms of private property boundaries.

But still in the ministerial in-tray is the Animal Care and Protection Bill.

The Weekly Times asked when the bill will appear before parliament and if any amendments are on the cards. on both questions, the Minister deferred.

“I don’t have an update on (the bill) but when we do, we’ll certainly let you know,” Ms Spence said. “I haven’t had a change in the planned (timeline).”

Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kealy said Ms Spence’s drought response was too little, too late.

“It took months and months for Ros Spence to spend a day in southwest Victoria when a timely response was critical,” the National Party MP said.

“Agriculture has lost its voice in decision-making in cabinet. Under Minister Spence, we’ve seen a shutdown in the sustainable hardwood timber industry, we’ve seen cuts to Agriculture Victoria losing a large number of staff.”

Responding to critics, Ms Spence said the drought announcement and other policy work showed the Allan Government prioritised agriculture.

“We do care, we are aware of pressures that farmers are facing,” the Labor MP said. “I do find it not great to read that there’s a lack of empathy or a lack of interest or a lack of willingness to do something. That’s just not true.”

Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and VFF president Emma Germano.

Victorian Farmers Federation Emma Germano echoed that view, saying Ms Spence had been one of the more responsive political figures on ag policy.

“There has been a far more collaborative approach since the change to Ros Spence. I can just call the Minister or the ministerial staff and there’s more of a conversation where they’re asking, rather than just doing. The drought funding has been a good example of that.

“Maybe because the change of ag minister occurred with the change of premier, and there’s a different approach from the top down where ministers have more autonomy, that could be one of the main reasons behind the change in approach.”