Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Constituency questions

Eildon electorate

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (14:39): (1150) I have a question for the Minister for Agriculture. The Murrindindi and Mansfield shires are suffering from drought conditions. There has been hardly any rain, which means paddocks are bare, dams are empty and hay supplies are diminished. Record numbers of cattle are being sold through the Yea saleyards as farmers are forced to sell their stock as drought conditions worsen. Our farmers need help, but so far all they have received from the Labor government is the news that they are not included in the government’s drought support package. Can the minister explain why the state government excluded farmers in Mansfield and Murrindindi shires from the recently announced expansion of their drought support program despite being in worse drought conditions than other locations receiving it? Funding assistance is urgently needed for farmers in my district, and as you can appreciate, these terrible conditions take an enormous toll on their mental health.