Council
13 June, 2025
Taskforce meets, but questions linger
PREMIER Jacinta Allan was in the region last week for the first meeting of the Drought Response Taskforce, but details on how struggling farmers will be supported were few and far between.
The Premier had announced the formation of the Drought Response Taskforce on May 30, which she would chair and would be comprised of 13 government Ministers, industry professionals and local government representatives.
A week after the announcement, last Friday, the Taskforce had its first meeting at the Killara Centre in Camperdown.
Word of the meeting had leaked out, resulting in dozens of Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades descending on Manifold Street in tankers to stage a peaceful protest against the government’s inaction and the controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy which will skyrocket rates for primary producers.
While Ms Allan did not meet with members of the community, drawing frustration from those who waited in bitter rain and cold to have their voices heard, Ms Allan did meet with members of the media for a press conference.
No concrete details were provided to the media as to what support will be made available for drought-stricken primary producers, however Ms Allan did state areas of priority and vowed the handpicked members of the Taskforce were committed to a quick and effective response.
“I’ve deliberately brought together this group of people to come and sit with us at the table to get all the issues and opportunities to how we respond as quickly as we can in recognising communities do need additional support,” she said.
“That’s why we met today and will be meeting over the next couple of weeks – we are committed to work through a range of actions we can take.
“Already, the areas that have been identified will probably not come as a surprise for rural and regional Victorians.
“Feed and fodder is an incredibly challenging area for farmers, as well as ongoing water supply and water security, the mental health impacts, the community impacts and the schooling and sporting impacts of the drought.
“There are opportunities for government departments and a whole range of organisations who want to help rural and regional communities by meeting the enormous challenges of the drought.”
Ms Allan had visited a farm in Derrinallum prior to the first meeting of the Taskforce, which was not open to the media, and said she was hearing the drought conditions were the worst farmers had experienced in generations.
“In the month of May, Agriculture Victoria had a range of predictions and the worst-case scenario was realised for regional Victoria across the month of May,” she said.
“Over the last two weeks of May, much of regional Victoria got less than 20 per cent of their average May rainfall.
“When you consider that’s come off the back of a very dry autumn and a very dry summer, that’s what saw all of the state eligible for drought support.
“Droughts get a grip on communities and do come with quite a long tail, even if the break does come.
“The consequences for farms, farming communities and indeed the regional and rural sectors means there is a bit of a tail so companies will need to rebuild back out of the drought.”
When introducing the Premier at the press conference, Corangamite Shire mayor councillor Kate Makin, who is a member of the Taskforce in her role as deputy chair of Rural Councils Victoria, did state the Taskforce would meet again this week.
“It’s great to have the Taskforce here in Camperdown, highlighting the fact the drought is really biting our residents here in the south west,” she said.
“It’s great to be able to host the Taskforce and see what is actually happening right here on the ground.
“We had really great, robust discussions today – it was great to have all members around the table, to feel the impact of what’s happening locally.
