Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Drought

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (18:32): (1668) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Agriculture. The action that I seek is for the minister to include animal sanctuaries in the state’s drought relief program. Over the past 18 months large parts of northern Victoria have experienced record low rainfall, as confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology. Despite this, many regions – in fact most regions – in my electorate are not currently listed in Agriculture Victoria’s technical advice as being eligible for drought assistance.

I have spoken in this place before about the rescued sheep and horses that I care for at my home, and I know I am not alone in doing this. As well as farmers, there are wildlife carers and animal sanctuary operators across my electorate telling me daily that they are struggling to source enough fodder, feed and water. Many of them are at breaking point, having exhausted personal resources just to keep their animals alive. My electorate office is fielding calls from people who have stepped up to provide sanctuary to these animals, often those that are surrendered by farmers who are no longer able to care for them in these conditions. These sanctuaries play a vital role in our communities, yet they have been entirely left out of the state’s drought relief framework. The Macedon Ranges, where I live, and other parts across northern Victoria make up over 100,000 square kilometres yet remain ineligible for support despite experiencing the same, if not worse, conditions as other drought-affected regions.

I ask the minister to explain the technical levers Agriculture Victoria is using to determine eligibility and to reconsider the current criteria. These assessments must reflect on-the-ground realities, not just arbitrary thresholds. Further, I urge the minister to simplify the current application processes so that constituents can access help without having to navigate complex bureaucratic requirements. Most urgently, we must expand the definition of who is eligible for drought relief to include animal sanctuaries and wildlife carers – those who have taken responsibility for animals that would otherwise be left to suffer and to starve. They should not be left to shoulder this burden alone.