Freight subsidies announced last week will help to relieve the financial pressure on farmers in the north east and East Gippsland as they work to recover from bushfire and years of drought.
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Victorian Shadow Minster for Agriculture Peter Walsh said for months, farmers have been calling for assistance to cover the high cost of bringing in fodder or transporting livestock to agistment in regions with available food and water.
“The Federal Liberal Nationals Government is doing the heavy lifting to make sure our farmers can get back on their feet,” Mr Walsh said.
“Today’s subsidy comes on top of $75,000 in federal grants that eligible farmers can already access.
“The Commonwealth Government is listening to our farmers by delivering this genuine support that the Victorian Government has long refused to provide.
“The Andrews Labor Government must now step up to cover half the cost of replacing boundary fencing that borders state forests and national parks.”
Mr Walsh said thousands of kilometres of fencing will need to be replaced on farmland in the north east and East Gippsland.
“The Andrews Government has a responsibility to be a good neighbour by contributing its share.
“These common sense measures will help our farmers get back on their feet, sooner,” he said.