WIMMERA farmers have urged the federal government to hit the ground running and deliver on new agriculture priorities.
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The government released its Agriculture Competitiveness White Paper on Saturday.
The $4-billion plan includes $500 million for water infrastructure, $2.75 billion in drought loans, $100 million for research and money for biosecurity and market access.
Rupanyup farmer and Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann said positives from the paper included $11.4 million for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commissioner dedicated to agriculture.
“At the moment there is not enough capacity for the commission to tackle agriculture issues - they don’t understand our concerns and this is something we have been working towards,” he said.
Mr Weidemann said money for drought loans was positive, but more information was still needed.
“The definition of drought hasn’t manifested itself yet, so we don’t know how this will be assessed and where the money will be distributed too,” he said.
Murra Warra farmer and Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president David Jochinke said a major priority identified in the paper was around increasing the threshold for farm management deposits.
“This is something Wimmera farmers might benefit from and means people can put money away from a rainy day, but still be able to draw on it if needed,” he said.
Mr Jochinke said $100 million for research was also positive.
“Hopefully that money is targeted towards farm profitability,” he said.
Mr Weidemann said overall he expected more from the paper. “It’s a good start, but there is still a chance to do more with what’s on the table,” he said.
“I would have liked to see money for an inland rail line, up and down the east coast, which would have been an important investment project and created a stronger supply chain.”
Mr Jochinke said he hoped for more money to reduce mobile blackspots.
“However the paper did include $3.3 million to enhance weather forecasting. In the Wimmera, we definitely need more support in this area," he said.
Mr Weidemann hoped the government delivered on its promises.
“Talk is cheap, now we need to see rubber on the road,” he said.