Drought relief
Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (09:54): I rise to highlight the growing impact that drought is having not just on farmers but on every Victorian household. In the Eastern Victoria Region, especially across Gippsland, dairy farms are running out of water and feed. Some have already begun destocking; others are facing financial ruin. But it is not just a rural issue. When farmers cannot produce, supermarket shelves cannot stock food. When stock numbers fall and crops fall, food prices rise. In a cost-of-living crisis this is really hurting families. Without urgent drought relief, things will only get worse. Milk, meat, fruit, vegetables – all of those things will get more and more expensive.
South Australia has stepped in with real support, but in Victoria the Allan Labor government has done nothing – no subsidies, no relief, no urgency – and this is not an issue that can be ignored. If the government does not act now and deliver meaningful support to our farmers, the damage will reach every single family and every single household.