Rates issue sparks health fears

Victorian Farmers Federation has reported a snap survey of 200 Ararat district people waiting for the outcome of an Ararat Rural City Council vote on a new rating plan revealed farmers felt ‘gutted by a lack of consultation’.

The council was scheduled to vote last night on a plan that involved scrapping a farm differential.

VFF president David Jochinke said the questionnaire revealed 78 percent of respondents experienced feelings of frustration, sadness and disappointment since the council first flagged the plan.

He said the survey also showed 75 percent of respondents spent the past month thinking ‘too much’ about the proposal, while 34 percent were having trouble sleeping and 17 percent were drinking more alcohol.

“It’s a sign of how toxic the issue has become,” he said.

“We’re deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of farmers in the Ararat community. There is a real sense of despair.

“We’ve spoken to farmers who could see rate rises of more than $20,000 under the proposed rating strategy. This is a cost they cannot manage.”

Mr Jochinke said one survey respondent wrote: “How can anybody sustain that kind of increase to their expenses in one year? A farm is unlike any other business. It cannot set the price for goods sold, it can only accept what is handed out. I honestly believe ARCC should be ashamed, this kind of action divides communities.”

Mr Jochinke said another commented with: “This issue has created quite a lot of stress for our family. It was completely out of the blue, with no community consultation or explanation as to why

“We are deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of farmers in the Ararat community. There is a real sense of despair” – David Jochinke

the dramatic and sudden change in the system.”

And from another: “As someone who has personally experienced the impact of farmer suicide, I am utterly devastated by the way the proposal has been handled.”

In waiting for last night’s outcome, Mr Jochinke said the council had a responsibility to ensure primary producers would not face additional economic stress due to planned changes to their annual rates.

“The fate of nearly 2000 farmers is in the hands of Ararat council and it is up to them to think about the potential impacts of a change to the rating strategy and do the right thing by the people they represent,” he said.