Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (11:10): I rise today to speak on the findings of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into securing Victoria’s food supply, a critically important issue not just for our state but especially for regional communities like mine in Shepparton. I note my colleague the member for Morwell is the deputy chair. This inquiry highlights what those of us in regional Victoria have known for a long time: food security is not guaranteed. It must be protected, supported and planned for. My electorate of Shepparton is known as the food bowl of Australia, a region that literally feeds the nation as well as producing global exports.

The recommendation on page 16 of the report calls on the Victorian government to develop a whole-of-government Victorian food strategy and recommends that such a strategy must address the food system as a whole, including agriculture, processing, manufacturing, supply and consumption. It should be centred on access to adequate nutritious food and ensuring that there is no threat to that supply. The strategy should aim to secure Victoria’s supply of healthy locally grown food in the long term; strengthen the resilience of Victoria’s food system to shocks and stresses by promoting diversity across the system, decentralising and localising supply chains; promote regenerative and sustainable food production; support Victorian farmers and food manufacturers to build profitable businesses and expand healthy food production; map major food-processing regions and protect all agricultural land from inappropriate development; and build food systems literacy across government departments and local government.

The committee found that Victoria’s agricultural sector is currently grappling with workforce shortages and the advanced ageing of farmers. A strong, skilled agricultural workforce is critical to securing the state’s future food supply. The sector is a significant and important source of employment, particularly in regional communities. The strategy must also set measurable targets, clearly attribute responsibility for achieving these targets and include a transparent monitoring framework. This is critical, because right now policy is fragmented. Decisions about land use, infrastructure and water are often made in isolation without fully considering their impact on food production.

A key recommendation of the inquiry I would like to touch on is stronger protection for higher value agricultural land. In regions like the Shepparton electorate we are seeing increasing pressure from development and competing land uses. Once prime agricultural land is lost, it is lost forever. The committee rightly highlighted the need for improved planning protections, clearer identification of strategic agricultural zones and stronger safeguards against inappropriate development. It was noted in the report by many stakeholders and impacted communities that stronger planning controls are needed to protect agricultural land from inappropriate development. This is about protecting not just land but our ability to feed future generations.

I want to talk to this further in relation to my electorate. Recommendation 1 of the committee’s final report is around mapping major food-producing regions and the need to protect all agricultural land from inappropriate development. Prime agricultural farmland through Shepparton East to Dookie have now been included in the proposed Central North renewable energy zone by VicGrid. In the original draft planning process these communities were excluded and have now been blindsided by this inclusion. This decision has caused significant uncertainty and anxiety amongst the local community, which has led locals to establish a formal campaign calling for responsible renewable energy planning and the protection of their prime agricultural land.

Another issue in my region is water security. You cannot talk about food production in northern Victoria without talking about water. The inquiry emphasised the importance of secure, reliable and affordable water across farming and agricultural communities. In the Goulburn Valley irrigation is the lifeblood of our agricultural sector, yet farmers continue to face uncertainty around water availability, pricing and policy settings. The committee called for better long-term water planning and greater recognition of the role irrigation plays in food production. Without water security there is no food security.

Another major issue identified in the report is workforce. The inquiry found significant shortages across farmland, food processing, and transport and logistics.

This is something we see every day in the Shepparton electorate. The committee recommended expanding training and skills programs, stronger pathways for regional workers and better support to attract and retain workers in regional areas. This aligns with what we have been calling for, including better access to TAFE and training and improved regional transport to connect workers with jobs. This inquiry tells us that securing Victoria’s food supply requires leadership, coordination and long-term planning. It requires us to protect our agricultural land, secure our water resources, support our workforce and invest in regional infrastructure. Importantly, it requires us to listen to the regions.