Media Releases

South-eastern Australia is likely to face vegetable shortages later this year as plague locusts attack Victoria’s winter vegetable crops, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has warned.
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government had underestimated the locust plagues, axing funding for locust control in last year’s budget and arrogantly ignoring the Coalition’s calls for it to act early.
“If growers can’t stop the locusts from attacking their crops, there will be shortages of some vegetables later in the year,” Mr Walsh said.
“Carrot and potato growers in particular are reporting huge losses, while cereal growers are hesitant to sow crops when there’s a risk they will be decimated by locusts once they germinate.
“Warmer temperatures and northerly winds are also moving the locusts further south, threatening food production in central Victoria.
“Consumers will face higher prices because of the government’s failure to act on the plagues.”
Mr Walsh accused the Brumby Government of allowing the problem to get out of hand.
“Food producers are undertaking spraying at huge cost to try to control the locust plagues, while the government is handing out fliers,” Mr Walsh said.
“Growers are frustrated they received little warning of the impending plague, and to date have received little or no assistance from the Brumby Government.”
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government had cut funding for locust control from last year’s budget, promising instead to address locust control in a biosecurity strategy.
“The implementation plan for that strategy is not due until July. Meanwhile locust plagues are wreaking havoc on crops in north-western Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“I asked Agriculture Minister Joe Helper to take action to control locusts in October when it became evident they were going to be a problem this season.
“The government’s response was to accuse the Coalition of ‘jumping the gun’ and ‘peddling mistruths’ in a media release.
“Instead of looking out the window at number one Spring Street, the Coalition actually took the time to understand what was happening on the ground in regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.