Council
19 June, 2025
MPs slam Allan’s lack of drought support
MEMBERS of the opposition have slammed the Victorian Government for dragging its feet on drought relief, despite the Drought Response Taskforce having now met twice.
Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell and Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan issued a joint statement this week questioning why no significant action had been taken stemming from the two meetings of the Taskforce over the past two weeks.
Mr Riordan said the local Taskforce members are recommending practical assistance, but slammed the Victorian Government for “remaining silent”.
“We’re in extreme circumstances now,” he said.
“Farmers are absolutely desperate.
“We need to do everything we can to help.”
Ms Britnell criticised Premier Jacinta Allan for her silence, calling for a number of immediate actions to be taken in support of farmers.
“Farmers are in desperate need and the Allan Labor Government promised to urgently provide a raft of assistance measures,” she said.
“The government are too busy running secret meetings and disappearing out the back door, rather than getting on with actions the taskforce has likely recommended.
“They need to provide grants, financial assistance for households, fodder and water for stock, as well as enabling roadside grazing.
“All stops must be pulled out.
“Farmers need decisive action from the Allan Labor government today – not more delays, not more bureaucracy.”
Among the proposed measures have been the immediate relaxing of regulations which prevent local councils from issuing permits to allow access to roadsides for livestock to feed.
Ms Britnell recently met with Moyne Shire councillor Jim Doukas and Mepunga dairy farmer Barry Smith to see first-hand the roadside areas which are suitable for grazing.
She called for the normal 20-day wait time for a grazing permit to be waived, saying it was a simple, effective measure at a time when farmers are buying fodder at an “exorbitant cost”.
“Farmers I’ve spoken to in the Moyne Shire, who had a licence over the past three years, have now been told they have to wait for a new native vegetation study to be completed before they can graze the same roads again,” Ms Britnell said.
“Roadside grazing would provide immediate relief to farmers who have been dealing with the most severe drought since records began.
“A drought is not a time for red tape hold ups.”
Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) released a statement this week saying the Victorian Government has agreed to speed up access to interstate fodder, expand fodder delivery routes and fast-track kangaroo control permits for rural landholders.
RCV deputy chair Kate Makin, who is a member of the Taskforce, said more needed to be done.
“These are steps in the right direction, but there’s still a mighty long way to go,” she said.
“We need to be talking about how to deliver fully-funded rate subsidies for primary producers in drought zones, zero interest loans that don't need to be matched by farmers, and direct funding for councils to boost local support programs and infrastructure spending.
“These are common sense measures that would help farmers and local economies immediately.”
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