The Allan Labor Government must urgently increase its support for Victorian farmers battling drought.
Labor has committed to a completely inadequate support package worth about a third of what the South Australian government has offered.
Farmers are in deep crisis - no water, no food, dwindling cash reserves and increasing debt - and the city-centric government can only offer a lame response.
The Liberals and Nationals support the Victorian Farmers Federation's call for a tiered drought response model with three defined stages - Watch and Preparedness, Moderate Drought and Severe Drought.
We also support the VFF's call to immediately declare the drought tier two (Moderate Drought), activating infrastructure and re-seeding grants, hardship support, full rate relief and assistance for family participation in education and sport.
With new data from the Bureau of Meteorology imminent and set to add to concerns, Labor must also expand drought support areas.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, has called for an urgent expansion of drought support.
"Our farmers need help - yet the Allan Labor Government is nowhere to be seen," Ms Kealy said.
"Labor pays more in interest to big banks in less than a day than it commits to drought support. It must stop punishing the people who put food on our tables.
"The first thing the government can do is to scrap the looming emergency services tax, but if not that, then let us see an expanded drought support package.
"Labor can't manage money and Victorians are paying the price."
Ms Kealy revealed there is now a six-week wait to access a regional financial counsellor - often the only form of mental health support available in drought-hit communities.
"It's a disgrace. These are the people who grow our food and fibre and inject billions into our economy - they've been completely abandoned," Ms Kealy said.
