Constituency questions
Gippsland South electorate
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:39): (1110) My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, and I ask: when will the minister extend drought assistance to Gippsland, specifically South and West Gippsland? While I acknowledge that the south-west and west of the state has been going through a particularly difficult time for 12 or 18 months now, the drought is now extending into Gippsland, particularly the dairy farming areas of South and West Gippsland. I had a hook-up with GippsDairy and a number of farmers on Monday. GippsDairy reports that they are currently supporting five dairy farmers that have run out of stock water, with another 30 indicating that they will run out in the next month. There are a number of other issues that they are seeking assistance on, but it is getting to the time that the government needs to actually provide some support to Gippsland farmers, whether they be beef, dairy or otherwise, particularly in that South and West Gippsland area. I met with a farmer at Ruby, between Leongatha and Korumburra, a few weeks ago who indicated that the 1967 drought has always been highlighted as the worst ever. The rainfall for this season has so far been less than that. We need some assistance as soon as possible. Thank you, Minister.