Farmers: Budget is a mixed bag

Victoria’s peak farming body has given a mixed response to the State Government’s 2018-19 state budget.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed government funding for some areas but believes it has missed the mark with others.

Federation president David Jochinke of Murra Warra welcomed the government’s $11-million commitment to improving telecommunications blackspots as part of a commitment to statewide infrastructure.

“The government has also committed money to several water projects including the East Grampians Water Supply Project and the Mitiamo Stock and Domestic pipeline. These are good initiatives,” he said.

“We acknowledge the government has made a start, but for a government that claims Victoria is the fastest growing economy in the nation, it has failed to deliver much-needed infrastructure beyond the CBD. If you are serious about population growth, you must look beyond outer Melbourne.”

Mr Jochinke said Treasurer Tim Pallas claimed the budget held true to the government’s values, but agriculture had been almost overlooked.

“As has a topic critical to rural, regional and city consumers – energy. Our state is in desperate need of a long-term energy plan,” he said.

“With seven months to election day, the budget certainly provides opportunity – opportunity for all parties to demonstrate that agriculture, the production of sustainable and safe food, is valued by politicians for the benefit of our state.

“The VFF calls on all 2018 candidates and parties to prioritise agriculture and demonstrate a commitment to deliver for all Victorians on modernising infrastructure.

“The state desperately needs an energy plan, fit-for-purpose roads, accessible rail and ports and reliable telecommunications.”

Mr Jochinke said the budget had a strong focus on health but failed to reach all parts of the state and had missed on meeting essential needs in rural and regional Victoria.

“We applaud the investment in mental health, in regional health programs and in regional hospitals. However, on behalf of rural and regional Victorians, we are still looking for better regional health care and new innovative ways to access treatment closer home,” he said.

“Victorians recognise that when you are crook, work doesn’t get done. Health-care services are essential for all Victorians. Poorly funded health-care services in regional Victoria has led to poor health outcomes.

“We note with interest the upgrades to Ballarat Base Hospital and Wonthaggi Hospital, which are worthwhile projects. However, we are extremely disappointed this funding comes from the sale of the Victorian share of the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

“Upgrades to essential health services should be funded from sustainable government income, not through the sale of an agricultural asset.”

Mr Jochinke said a regional health-funding model needed to change to ensure basic health care was available to all Victorians.

“The money from the Snowy Hydro sale was a chance to inject generationally transformative funding into regional roads, energy and water infrastructure. Committing only 12 percent of the proceeds from the sale to regional roads is a huge missed opportunity.”

Roads

In reference to roads funding, the federation agreed that a $940-million commitment to roads ended a road-funding drought.

But it argued that it failed to deliver ‘transformational funding needed for safe and fit-forpurpose’ roads for all Victorians.

Federation grains president Ross Johns said after decades of drought, roads were in ‘extremely’ poor condition.

“Agriculture not only needs roads to get goods to market but to receive the inputs required to grow our safe, sustainable and reliable agriculture products,” he said.

“Roads are essential to the Victorian economy with a quarter of our exports coming from agriculture. Without fit-for-purpose roads, we cannot grow the $13-billion of export earnings agriculture currently produces.”

Mr Johns said roads were also critical for Victorians to access education, health services, employment and to underpin the safety of travellers.

“Almost $1-billion for regional roads might sound like a lot. It is a good start to the journey but there is a long road ahead before we achieve safe and functional roads in regional Victoria,” he said.

“Metropolitan Melbourne, which accounts for only three percent of Victoria, is receiving more than two-thirds of the roads budget. This highlights that the government is viewing Victoria through a very narrow lens.

“While we welcome this attention to roads, we challenge all parties to ensure their 2018 election promises rise to the challenge and commit significant dollars to a long-term road funding program.”