Council
2 May, 2025
MPs call for drought funding
THREE south west MPs have united in a plea to the state government to provide urgent drought funding for farmers, similar to what is being offered by the South Australian government.
The South Australian government has already provided $73 million in relief to its farmers and members Richard Riordan (Polwarth), Roma Britnell (South West Coast) and Dan Tehan (Wannon) are hoping the Victorian government will follow.
“There is an urgent need for assistance in south-west Victoria,” Dan Tehan said.
“An elected Coalition would move to immediately assess the situation and look at what steps are necessary to provide water infrastructure for the long-term future of the region.”
Member for South West Coast, Roma Britnell, said in all her years of farming she had never seen such dry conditions.
“A failed spring followed by a failed autumn is very tough. Not only is feed expensive but it’s becoming scarce, and once again this city centric government has shown it doesn’t understand what’s happening in the regions,” Ms Britnell said.
“Farmers have never seen such a period of extended dry. Rainfall is at a record low and long-term forecasts do not see relief any time soon.
“Food and fibre production are vital not just to this region’s economy but are also fundamentally important to our nation.”
Member for Polwarth, Richard Riordan, said the state government’s lack of understanding had contributed to its failed approach.
“So poor is the Allan Labor Government’s understanding of the plight of our farmers, that all it has done is allocate $5000 grants for water troughs, despite the fact there is no water to put in them,” Mr Riordan said.
“Farmers are having to cart water to their stock, but dams are dry.
“Once again, Labor is ignorant to reality. If there’s no water to put in the troughs, the assistance is obviously useless. It’s not new troughs that are needed, it’s rain.
“Without rain, assistance is needed to truck feed and even water in for the animals. Meanwhile, the South Australian Government (with $73m) has shown support for its farmers who border Victoria’s south-west, who are equally struggling with this extended dry period.”
Mr Tehan said his discussions with farmers right across the south west have demonstrated just how bad the drought is, and he urgently calls on the state government to provide immediate relief.
“Our farmers need immediate relief and we have to look at using national water grid funding for the long term water needs of our region,” Mr Tehan said.
