Dry paddocks and empty promises

The Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has expressed deep frustration at the Allan Labor Government’s drought response, saying it fails to deliver the urgent help that farmers across regional Victoria desperately need.

 “Once again, regional farmers have been left high and dry,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Last week's announcement is yet another city-centric response that completely misses the reality on the ground. Rural communities are battling serious drought, and this package does little to ease the pressure.”

 Mr McCurdy supported a successful Nationals and Liberals motion in Parliament last week calling for the Government to formally recognise the growing drought conditions in parts of north-east and central Victoria, and to urgently deliver practical support.

 “But instead of action, what we got was spin,” he said. “Farmers are carting water, paying well over $500 a tonne for feed, and selling off stock just to stay afloat — they don’t need more red tape or vague promises, they need help now.”

 Mr McCurdy also slammed the Government’s decision to simply defer its controversial Emergency Services Tax on agricultural land.

 “Deferring an unfair tax isn’t good enough, it should be scrapped entirely. Rural producers are already carrying too much of the burden.”

 He said many of the Government’s measures, such as infrastructure grants, are out of touch with the immediate needs of farmers.

“People don’t have spare money to build new sheds or clean out dams that won’t fill until it rains. What they need is water, fodder and freight support, not a bureaucratic maze and half-measures that don’t reflect the crisis they’re living through.”

Labor can't manage money, and regional Victoria is paying the price.