Thursday, 28 August 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:51): (1791) My question is to the Minister for Agriculture on behalf of farmers in the Northern Victoria Region who are suffering in drought conditions. The Victorian Farmers Federation has warned that the crisis is far from over. Many farmers are facing critical pressures, record low rainfall, soaring fodder prices, depleted pastures and plummeting farm finances. The VFF has called for urgent long-term support, interest-free loans with no repayments for two years, statewide drought support not just in the south-west, expanded council rate relief and assistance to help bring in fodder from greater distances and cover associated costs. I have spoken with farmers who are exhausted, spending tens of thousands of dollars on feed every week and looking to leave the industry because of mounting debts. Minister, what immediate action will the government take to extend meaningful drought relief across all of Victoria and support the farmers who feed our state and power our regional economy?