Media Releases

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh today turned the first sod to mark the beginning of construction works on a national seed bank in Horsham.
Mr Walsh said the start of work on the Australian Grains Genebank was the culmination of 15 years of discussion among governments and industry groups.
“The centre will ensure vital plant genetics are preserved and available to breeders into the future,” Mr Walsh said.
“Genetic material is vital for our productive agricultural future and this national collection of pulse, cereal, oilseed and tropical seeds will include more than 180,000 samples from Australia and around the world.
“Thanks to this new facility, plant breeders from throughout Australia and the world will have access to genetic material and associated international knowledge necessary to produce superior varieties for our grain growers.”
The Victorian Coalition Government has committed $3 million towards establishing the facility, which will be matched with funds from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
The Genebank will consolidate Horsham’s existing Temperate Field Crops Collection of oilseeds and pulses with two other tropical and temperate climate cereal collections currently held in Queensland and New South Wales.
“For example, pulse seeds collected from the Middle East might hold the key to creating new drought, pest or disease tolerant varieties for Australia’s cropping future. Genebanks such as this are a vital store of potentially game-changing genetics,” Mr Walsh said.
“It is very pleasing that GRDC and Victoria have led this initiative, to ensure Australia’s seed bank centres would be more financially secure and strategically managed so that all of the collections could be conserved.”
GRDC chairman Keith Perrett said the Genebank was more than just a unique and valuable facility for storing vital genetic material. 
“It will be very much a functional facility where experts will be actively responsible for the acquisition, conservation, characterisation and distribution of grain crop genetic resources,” Mr Perrett said.
“The seed and associated data will be of enormous benefit for breeding programs which will be much better equipped to select specific traits for developing more resilient and productive varieties of grain crops.”
On top of their funding commitments of $3 million each to establish the Genebank, the Coalition Government and GRDC will also each commit up to $600,000 in the annual operating costs for five years to grow Horsham’s Grain Innovation Park into a contemporary world-class National Plant Genetic Resource Centre.
W.M. Flynn Pty. Ltd., of Ballarat, has been contracted to build the Genebank, which is due to be completed by November this year.

The Victorian Coalition Government has approved more than $1.6 million in new funding for a range of projects that will improve recreational fishing opportunities across the state.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said money from the sale of Recreational Fishing Licences had been allocated to 12 new projects across Victoria that will improve fish habitat, build stronger fisheries and improve facilities for fishers of all abilities.
“Fishing is one of Victoria’s most important recreational pastimes and makes a vital contribution to regional employment and local economic activity,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Coalition Government wants to make sure our 720,000 recreational fishers have the best fishing conditions possible and these grants help to make that happen.”
This year’s round of large grants allocated under the Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ Recreational Fishing Grants Program include:
· $300,000 over three years to the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to improve fish habitat and build fish populations in East Gippsland waterways;
· $263,206 over three years to Fisheries Victoria to better understand the recreational catch of snapper in Victorian waters;
· $150,000 over three years to improve Murray Cod fishing in Victoria;
· $115,667 to Lake Purrumbete Angling Club Inc. to assess the performance of recently stocked chinook salmon into Lake Purrumbete and Lake Bullen Merri;
· $114,000 over three years for the Victorian Fishers for Fish Habitat Program;
· $113,500 over three years to Fishcare Victoria Inc. to conduct 300 FishRight workshops around Victoria;
· $58,510 over two years to Monash University to improve the Macquarie perch fishery;
· $38,800 to VRFish to conduct a recreational fisher awareness campaign to reduce released snapper mortality;
· $45,000 to improve fish migration through the Broken River Weir;
· $40,000 to build an all-abilities fishing platform on the northern breakwater at St. Helens Boat Harbour at Geelong;
· $39,426 to the Association of Geelong & District Angling Clubs Inc. to build an allabilities fishing platform at Aire River, Glenaire; and
· $22,000 to develop a recreational fishing strategy for the Docklands precinct. 

Mr Walsh said a further $224,000 of Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account funds had been allocated for a range of recreational fisheries education and communications materials.
These include funds to produce and circulate 300,000 copies of the 2013-14 Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, 200,000 fish length ruler stickers and 500 metal fish length rules,
20,000 abalone, rock lobster and spiny crayfish rulers in three languages, 1,000 abalone dive tags and 30,000 ‘Know your (fish) limits’ pocket cards in four languages.
More information about the Recreational Fishing Grants Program is available at: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/about-fisheries/fishing-grants-program

VicForests has today released the 2013 Resource Outlook for timber resources in Victoria’s state forests.
In line with Victoria’s commitment to responsible and sustainable management of our working forests, less timber will be harvested in Mountain Ash forests from 1 July, 2017.
This decision is a direct result of the significant impact of the 2009 bushfires on Victoria’s state forests.
While this decision will disappoint some businesses and workers, it is vital that VicForests manages the harvest of our state forestry resources at sustainable levels to ensure a long-term future for the industry.
This decision reinforces the genuine commitment VicForests has to responsible, world-standard and science-based management practices.
VicForests will be working to help industry adjust as the 2017 transition approaches.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh today officially opened a new stockfeed mill in Pakenham that will produce more than 180,000 tonnes of feed every year.
Mr Walsh said the establishment of the $12.8 million mill demonstrated Ridley AgriProducts’ confidence in the growth of Gippsland, in particular the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.
“Ridley’s multi-million dollar investment in this new state-of-the-art, energy efficient mill demonstrates confidence in the sustainable growth of Gippsland, a confidence which the Victorian Coalition Government shares,” Mr Walsh said.
“Dairy is the highest value agribusiness industry in the Gippsland region and is vital to the region’s economy and future growth.
“In 2011/12 the Gippsland dairy industry produced 22 per cent of the national milk production – more than 2.1 billion litres.
“The Gippsland region also has a significant grazing and meat processing industry based predominantly on beef, but also wool and prime lamb production.
“The additional 180,000 tonnes of feed this new mill will produce for the Gippsland and wider region will allow livestock businesses to expand further and better secure feed supply,” Mr Walsh said.
During the last 25 years Ridley AgriProducts has played a key role in the growth of Gippsland’s poultry, dairy, beef and sheep industries.
It has supplied high-quality stock feed and nutritional products from its stock feed milling facilities at Pakenham, Dandenong and Maffra. The new plant is producing a combination of either steam conditioned pellets or cracked grain and protein meal feeds for dairy cattle, beef and sheep.
“This million-dollar investment in Victoria’s food and fibre sector makes a significant positive statement about the industry’s future,” Mr Walsh said.
“Victoria is already Australia’s leading exporter of food and fibre products with exports worth almost $9 billion in 2011/2012 and there are many more gains to be made.
“I have set the ambitious goal for Victoria’s food and fibre producers to double production by 2030 and developments like this new mill will help them to achieve that goal.”

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh will tonight officially open the annual council meeting of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau in Inverloch.
Mr Walsh, representing Deputy Premier Peter Ryan, said the economic opportunities that would arise from the conference were vital for Jersey breeders and companies, and for Victoria’s economy and dairy industry as a whole.
“The gathering of Jersey breeders from 33 member countries gives local producers the chance to network, sell Jersey embryos and semen, and showcase the latest in genomic technology,” Mr Walsh said.
“Jerseys are known around the world for their high-quality of fat, protein and easy milking, and for their ability to adapt to different climates and conditions.”
Mr Walsh said the dairy industry is Victoria’s largest export sector, producing 66 per cent of Australia’s milk and exporting almost $2 billion worth of products last financial year.
“Global demand for food and fibre is expected to double over the next few decades and agriculture industries will need to continue to adopt new technologies and innovations in order to help meet this demand,” Mr Walsh said.
“I have set the ambitious goal for Victorian farmers to double food and fibre production by 2030.
The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to supporting the continued development of Victoria’s agricultural and food industries and helping farmers improve their productivity and competitiveness.
“Last week I announced $4.7 million has been budgeted for the next two years to protect the livestock industry from serious disease, in particular the devastating foot-and-mouth disease.
“The Coalition Government has also committed $61.4 million for Growing Food and Fibre over four years and with our leadership role in RD&E we are investing $14.3 million over four years, and $3.7 million a year ongoing, to boost dairy industry productivity and profitability.
“Scientists at the National Centre for Dairy Research at Ellinbank DEPI are also working to enhance feed conversion efficiency and are developing new forage systems and grazing management strategies.
“We are engaging with industry, right along the value chain, to achieve faster productivity growth and more competitive industries.”

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has made misleading allegations that the Victorian Coalition Government has cut funding for Rural Financial Counsellors.
As the VFF is well aware, in times of critical need Victoria has always funded more counsellors than required under the cost-sharing arrangements that are in place with the Commonwealth.
These positions were funded to help people deal with the aftermath of the floods that occurred in January 2011. They were not ongoing positions.
The Coalition Government is acutely aware of the difficult seasonal conditions facing food and fibre producers around the state.
These positions will continue until June 30 and the Coalition Government will be closely monitoring conditions and the demand for financial counselling between now and then to determine whether there is a need to fund these positions beyond this date.
The Commonwealth Government has also recently confirmed funding for an additional three counselling positions in Victoria, which means the expiration of the three appointments would result in no change to current counsellor service levels.

The Victorian Labor Opposition has jilted the forestry industry this week by voting against legislation that would provide longer term resource security, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh said.
Following debate in the Legislative Council last night, Labor sided with the Greens and voted against the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Amendment Bill 2013.
“This legislation was introduced following extensive review of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004,” Mr Walsh said.
“To ensure a sustainable future, Victoria’s native forestry industry requires greater resource security and certainty to facilitate long term industry investment.
“Improving long term resource security underpins the industry’s ability to access finance for investments in processing infrastructure, value adding and produce and market development.
“This legislation provides extra security by enabling VicForests to offer timber supply contracts for periods of up to 20 years; currently contracts can only be offered for periods of up to 15 years.
“The legislation does not alter Victoria’s world-standard sustainable forest management regulations and environmental standards.
“The amendment would also cut red tape by removing the Timber Harvester Operator Licence (THOL) system.
“The THOL system duplicates occupational health and safety standards required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and its removal will save individuals and businesses an estimated $280,000 per annum.
“Labor’s opposition is on shaky ground. Labor claims to support long term resource security but voted against it. Labor also claims to support jobs in regional Victoria but, again, voted against measures that would provide greater job security for forestry workers.
“Labor has opposed the removal of the THOL system, despite John Lenders himself proposing it be removed when he was Treasurer in the former government.
“Daniel Andrews would do well to seek the sensible counsel of the Labor Member for Ripon, Joe Helper, before this Bill is voted on in the Legislative Assembly.
“Mr Helper told ABC Radio this week he “absolutely and thoroughly” agrees with measures that provide greater resource security. As a former Minister responsible for Forestry, Mr Helper must be disappointed that Labor is playing politics with this Bill,” Mr Walsh said.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh has announced a second round of consultation on the draft Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Establishments.
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government was listening to concerns about the current form of the draft Code and wanted to ensure a thorough consultation process took place.
When finalised, the Code will specify updated minimum standards of accommodation, management and care required for dogs and cats housed in breeding and rearing establishments.
“Public consultation is an important part of the process of updating the Code to ensure everyone gets a fair hearing, and to ensure animal welfare standards and community expectations are met,” Mr Walsh said.
“During this first consultation period, the Coalition Government has been made aware that a number of stakeholders have serious concerns, including people who breed working dogs.
“We would like to work through those concerns, and providing a second opportunity for public consultation will help us work with stakeholders to resolve the issues.
“The current consultation period will end on May 13, as originally advertised, and then a revised draft Code will be released in late June or early July for the second round of public consultation,” Mr Walsh said.
“The final Code is now not expected to be completed until the end of August this year.
“This will give stakeholders extra time to participate in the process, and it will also provide the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) sufficient time to consider the second round of submissions,” Mr Walsh said.
Feedback on the draft Code can be emailed to DEPI via the website www.dpi.vic.gov.au
For telephone inquiries call 136186.

The Victorian Coalition Government will convene a new Women in Primary Industries Roundtable (WIPIR), Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh announced today.
Mr Walsh announced the new group while attending the 24th annual Women on Farms Gathering in St Arnaud.
“Women make a valuable contribution to Victoria’s food and fibre industries and the new Women in Primary Industries Roundtable will provide the Coalition Government with a direct line of communication for discussing emerging trends, issues and opportunities,” Mr Walsh said.
“It is important that the Coalition Government is informed by a variety of perspectives when making decisions which affect our food and fibre industries.
“I have invited 11 women from a broad cross-section of the food and fibre sector to join WIPIR’s first meeting in June this year and I am very much looking forward to hearing their views.”
“It is an exciting time to be involved in agriculture in Victoria as there are many new opportunities arising, especially in international markets.
“Victoria is already a substantial exporter of food and fibre products, sending $9 billion worth in 2011/2012, and the Coalition Government’s international trade program is aimed at opening up new market opportunities in valuable growth areas like China and the Middle East.
“The Coalition Government has also set a goal for Victorian producers to aim to double food and fibre production by 2030.
“To help meet that goal, the Coalition Government is co-investing with industry on targeted, productivity-focused research and development through our $61.4 million Growing Food and Fibre initiative.
“I look forward to meeting with the members of the new roundtable to discuss how the Coalition Government can work together with industry to make Victoria’s successful food and fibre industries even more productive and profitable in the future.”

The Victorian Coalition Government has introduced tighter fishing regulations to protect stocks of Murray spiny freshwater crayfish this year.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said a 12-month Fisheries Notice would align Victorian regulations governing the take of Murray spiny freshwater crayfish with New South Wales.
“New South Wales recently changed its regulations to replenish stocks of the Murray spiny crayfish, which has been left potentially vulnerable as a result of blackwater events caused by flooding,” Mr Walsh said.
“I appreciate the new rules may inconvenience some fishers who had planned to fish for Murray crayfish in the Goulburn and other Victorian creeks and rivers this season.
“However, these changes are necessary to protect Victorian stocks of Murray freshwater spiny crayfish in the short-term,” Mr Walsh said.
Key elements of the new Victorian regulations include:
· changing the opening of the fishing season from 1 May to 1 June to protect prespawning females;
· increasing the minimum size limit (from the rear of the eye socket to the centre rear of the carapace) for spiny freshwater crayfish from 9 centimetres to 10 centimetres and introducing a maximum size limit of 12 centimetres, to ensure all females reach sexual maturity and very large crayfish can continue to exist within the population;
· reducing the daily bag limit for Murray crayfish from five to two; and
· reducing the possession limit from 10 to four.
“The new Murray crayfish fishing rules are effective immediately, so it will be an offence to take Murray crayfish in the month of May,” Mr Walsh said.
“Fishers must ensure they know the new rules before heading out fishing this Murray crayfish season, as Fisheries officers will be out in force to ensure the new rules are being followed.”
For more information about the new regulations visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/murraycrays