MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster is calling on the Victorian government to review eligibility criteria for the Mallee to be included in the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.
“It has taken the Victorian government 11 months to sign on to this program, and now they have decided to leave out the Mallee,” Dr Webster said.
“The Commonwealth Government is ready and willing to extend this scheme to all of Victoria, but the State Government has cherry-picked certain regions for eligibility.”
As part of the scheme, $100 million has been committed to help farmers to drill new bores, desilt dams and install pipes, pumps, troughs and tanks.
Dr Webster said the Federal Government committed a further $50 million to farmers nationally under the extended rebate scheme.
The extended scheme uses a 50-50 cost-sharing arrangement between the states and territories and the Federal Government.
“It is really disappointing that only the East Gippsland and Wellington regions will be eligible at this stage,” Dr Webster said.
“I am asking the Victorian Government to review eligibility criteria for other regions, including the Mallee.
“Victorian farmers have already benefited from funding of $3.56 million in the initial scheme with a further $1.7 million available under the scheme extension, through the combined contributions of the governments.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said the available funding was directed to far eastern Victoria due to “long-lasting drought conditions and farmers still managing recovery”.
“The Victorian Government has invested more than $81 million in drought support through recent dry seasonal conditions,” they said.
The spokesperson said round one of the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme was available to 22 local government areas, including Buloke, Gannawarra, Mildura and Swan Hill in the Mallee region.
However, Dr Webster said Mallee farmers were still recovering from drought, and so the government needed to show its commitment to agriculture by expanding the scheme, and supporting farmers who need assistance to install water infrastructure.
“It’s about time the State Government started funding programs like this in the Mallee which increase our farmers’ resilience to the impacts of drought,” she said.
Dr Webster said the Victorian Government was responsible for setting the scheme’s criteria.
“They need to explain their disappointing decision to Mallee farmers,” she said.
“The Federal Government is ready to expand this scheme to all of Victoria.
“Money is on the table – but the Victorian government needs to step up and match our funding and expand the scheme to include farmers across Mallee.”
