State Budget helps farmers, but roads miss out – VFF

The budget included $46.4 million for improved traceability systems, the fruit fly strategy, an additional $5.8 million to support the Rural Financial Counselling Service and nearly $20 million to “fast-track” the agricultural sector’s response to climate change.

VFF president Emma Germano said other investments, including $3.8 billion towards mental health, would also benefit farmers.

“Farmers are uniquely vulnerable to many factors that contribute to poor mental health and the VFF look forward to seeing this funding flow through to improving rural and regional mental health outcomes,” she said.

But the organisation was “disappointed” with the State Government’s failure to invest in regional freight routes, she said.

“The government has failed to adequately invest in the maintenance and upgrades required to make rural and regional roads safe,” Ms Germano said.

“Last year $6.9 billion was invested in regional Victoria, a strong signal of the importance of our regional economy to the state’s prosperity. This year that number is $3.7 billion.”

The organisation was also disappointed the budget did not include funding to provide Victorian farmers access to the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme, she said.

The Victorian and Federal governments are in discussions on the matter.

In another blow to the regions, the introduction of new taxes could stymie growth in regional areas, she said.

“The government has introduced new taxes that could stifle agricultural investment and housing stock growth in regional Victoria.

“The stamp duty increase and windfall tax will all hit farmers and regional developers. Combined with the failure to fund the $20,000 first-home owners’ grant, this will seriously impact the development of desperately needed new housing stock in regional Victoria.

“It’s tough enough to find a house in regional Victoria and, unfortunately, this budget is only going to make it tougher,” Ms Germano said.