MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper has backed calls from Murray Valley wine-grape growers for a government subsidy to help cover the cost of harvesting as producers struggle to find revenue for their crops.
Ms Cupper said she wrote to Victoria’s Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas, this week to request the government consider subsidies of about $600,000 to cover short-term harvesting costs.
“Our growers are in a precarious position at the moment due to changes to global demand and supply for wine grapes, and the situation doesn’t look likely to be resolved anytime soon,” Ms Cupper said.
“Much of the fruit that would otherwise be made into wine is having to be harvested on to the ground to rot, resulting in significant losses for local wine-grape businesses.
“Without some form of assistance, many operations face the prospect of financial difficulty and the first to go will be our small growers, particularly family farms.”
Demand from China for Australian wine has plummeted in the past 15 months and Sunraysia growers recently reported knocking grapes to the ground because they could not find buyers for their product.
According to Murray Valley Winegrowers (MVW), about 35 to 40 per cent of exports from the Riverland, Riverina and Murray-Darling regions were affected by the change in the market.
Ms Cupper said she had met MVW and recognised short-term support was necessary for “family farmers” as they waited for “resolution” of supply chain issues.
“COVID-19 related freight and logistics issues and the impact of the China tariffs have not been a business decision of their making, so it’s fair that the government work to assist eligible businesses through this difficult period,” Ms Cupper said.
