Thursday, 15 August 2019

 Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (18:26): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Agriculture. East Gippsland farmers are in the middle of a green drought. They have all the appearance of healthy pasture, but with no groundwater; come spring, the pasture will die. New South Wales fodder freight subsidies are making it a little more difficult, as it happens. What we have is that now their fodder freight subsidies are allowing the transportation of fodder from New South Wales to come from Victoria. What that does is drive our local fodder prices up, and it is starting to price our drought-affected farmers out of their ability to afford fodder. Why I mention this along with the green drought is that come spring, farmers are not going to have—at least in the east of the state—any ability to make their own fodder. Waiting until then is going to be too late. Waiting until they have hit the wall and have to leave is too late. So the action I seek is for the minister to give our Victorian drought-affected farmers whatever she can by whatever means necessary to provide a level playing field with their New South Wales counterparts so our farmers are not left disadvantaged.