Victoria’s drought taskforce stalls as farmers await crucial decisions

Drought aid for Victorian farmers hangs in the balance, with revelations a government taskforce hasn’t met for months despite the deepening crisis.

Key members of Premier Jacinta Allan’s hand-picked drought taskforce say aid for farmers has been put on the back burner, with a three-month impasse since the last meeting.

Three in-person forums of the taskforce were held in quick succession in June — starting with Camperdown, then Shepparton.

But it has been three months since the third, and so far final, taskforce in-person catch-up, catch up in Ballarat with claims key initiatives for water management have yet to be implemented.

Drought taskforce members including Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking, Rural Councils Victoria deputy chairwoman Kate Makin and former National Party state leader Peter Walsh are all calling for the Premier to convene a fresh meeting, noting the drought footprint has expanded and exacerbated since the group last met.

The key members want the current 40 per cent rates reduction for southwest Victoria expanded to include more council areas across the state, as well as guarantees that farmers won’t be whacked with bill shock from the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund next financial year.

Mr Hosking said despite the superficial green tinge on paddocks, springtime rainfall had been lacklustre across much of Victoria.

Locations such as Bairnsdale at 8mm received only 16 per cent of its usual September rainfall with Horsham at 12mm not much better at only 32 per cent and Wangaratta with 21mm only 40 per cent of the usual mid-spring rain total.

“It is important we get that taskforce back together. We’re in that critical spring period that could make or break regional Victoria,” Mr Hosking said.

“The 40 per cent rates announcement was a good first step but there are now farmers in council areas outside that original southwest zone that are experiencing their worst drought on record and need similar assistance.”

Premier Jacinta Allan formed a drought taskforce earlier this year. Picture: Aaron Francis

West Gippsland is now enduring its driest 12-month period on record, according to Bureau of Meterology mapping, and The Weekly Times understands the next taskforce meeting may be held in Warragul or Wonthaggi.

Cr Makin, who also serves as Corangamite Shire mayor, said more local government areas, such as councils covering west Gippsland, needed to be included in the 40 per cent rates reduction zone.

“I’m very frustrated that it’s been so long since we’ve met — I feel like this government is waiting for the drought not be an issue anymore,” Cr Makin said.

“We definitely need to reconvene and there is an urgency to meet, the drought just doesn’t hit farmers, small businesses and families across regional Victoria are doing it tough.

“It’s also implementing what they have announced too- the $2-3m for standpoints and emergency access points, I haven’t seen any of that come to fruition.

“Yes it’s rained, we’re thankful for the rain, but the drought isn’t going away any time soon and nor should the taskforce.”

The Weekly Times asked the Premier’s office when and where the next taskforce meeting would be held and whether further assistance was being planned.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said: “We’ve been listening to farmers and communities who are doing it tough – that’s why we’re delivering $144 million of direct drought support.

“This isn’t just about dollars – it’s about backing the people who feed our state and the regional communities that keep our state strong.”

“We continue to actively monitor the drought and seasonal conditions and will work closely alongside the taskforce over the next few weeks.”

Hamilton and District Stock Agents Association president Heath Templeton was recruited to the drought taskforce to act as the livestock agent representative.

“There’s a deathly silence – after the Premier handed out the last package she probably thought ‘job’s done, I don’t have to do anymore’,” he said.

“Hamilton’s rain records to the end of August are 259mm and we’re a 750mm rainfall area, so that gives you an indication how lacking this year has been and it’s a similar story across much of the state — the drought’s not going away soon.

“Forty per cent rate relief for 11 council areas is a joke — there’s billions blown on things like the Commonwealth Games that we didn’t end up hosting yet the government can’t extend a bit of rates relief to parts of Victoria that have their worst couple of years on record.”

Drought has gripped large swathes of southeast Australia this year.

Premier Allan formed the drought taskforce in late May, alongside cabinet colleagues Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence, Water Minister Gayle Tierney and Regional Parliamentary Secretary Michaela Settle.

To make the taskforce bipartisan, the Premier also recruited former agriculture minister Mr Walsh to represent the opposition viewpoint.

The former Victorian National Party leader said not only did the taskforce need to reconvene but prior announcements needed to be properly implemented.

“Early July, the government put out their drought package and that included $3m for the upgrade or installation of additional water cartage points,” Mr Walsh said.

“There has been subsequent hook-up with the drought taskforce, particularly with the two members from the southwest, but as far as I know, there has been no decisions made as to how that money is going to be spent.

“It’s very frustrating not only for the members that have given up their time to be part of this taskforce but more importantly, for the farmers who need access to water as a priority.”

There have been calls for more farmers to be part of the drought taskforce, with six state MPs on the 14-person grouping but only one full-time primary producer, Mr Hosking.

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said more farmer representation was needed, as well as scientific expertise, such as an agronomist.

Other members of the drought taskforce include Regional Cities Victoria chairman Shane Sali, National Centre for Farmers Health founding director Susan Brumby, Country Womens Assoication state president Jenny Nola, National Bank agribusiness executive Khan Horne and Bendigo Bank public affairs general manager Robert Musgrove.

Cr Sali also called for a fresh meeting of the taskforce: “We’ve always said that the drought is a slow-moving storm – it’s not just the south-west, it’s across the state

“Until we get significant long-term rain, the drought doesn’t disappear. The taskforce was set up to bring key representatives around the table to provide advice and direction on appropriate ongoing steps to support farmers and impacted communities.”