Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Adjournment

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (17:23): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Agriculture

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:23): (124) I rise today to speak on the Andrews Labor government’s actions to support our crucial agricultural sector. Agriculture is an essential industry to all Victorians. Not only is it a major industry for the export market that it creates for our farmers, where our products are considered to be some of the best in the world, and the internal market for consumption at home, but the agricultural industry is incredibly important for the livelihoods of many Victorians, for those not just in the industry but in the many industries which rely on it, such as tourism. To protect these industries is to protect the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people right across the country.

Over the past year the Andrews Labor government has created grants to support small-scale agribusinesses to adapt to new markets, encourage tourism and integrate new technology. This will ensure businesses can come out of the pandemic stronger than before. These grants provide essential disaster recovery – support for farmers impacted by last year’s devastating floods and storms. The Andrews Labor government has also supported developing industries in Victoria such as the distilling industry, which has allowed our great state to support a world-class gin industry and to fortify our existing wine industry.

The Andrews Labor government also works hard to protect our vital biosecurity by managing diseases and pests within Australia. Funding for our biosecurity has ensured that Victoria has the tools and the plans in place to help prevent pests and diseases from ever entering Victoria and to manage them if they do. Biosecurity grants have also been provided for farms to ensure Victorian farmers have the tools to protect their businesses and to be able to work with the biosecurity department.

The Labor Andrews government will also be leading the way with its on-farm emission action program. The program will ensure that farmers are supported to know their farm emissions number and understand how it can be reduced. These programs are ensuring that industries can operate meaningfully and make a profit while also considering and protecting our beautiful environment. While these industries are having some of the best harvests in years, the Andrews government is working hard to ensure agriculture can continue to bring business and jobs to Victoria, many of which will go to rural Victorians well into the future. So my adjournment question is for the Minister for Agriculture, Minister Tierney. Minister, while the current government has done great work to support agricultural businesses in Victoria throughout the disasters, what more is being done to support the sector through climate change and drive climate action, in particular in my own community of Southern Metropolitan Melbourne?