Media Releases

Support and advice provided by government to Victoria’s $10 billion agricultural sector is set to be revolutionised under the Victorian Coalition Government.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh today announced that he had signed off on a $31.3 million investment to build a new information network.
“The Coalition Government is improving services for farm businesses to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden and streamline the delivery of services,” Mr Walsh said.
“The system upgrade will bring services and information direct to the farm gate through field-based mobile computing technology.
“It will improve client case management and boost the profitability and productivity of farm businesses by giving producers better access to information and the latest research and development.”
Mr Walsh said it was important the government moved with the times to become more efficient and responsive to industry and producers’ needs.
“This investment means food and fibre producers will be able to conduct business in new ways,” Mr Walsh said.
“Individual landholders will be able to build and customise their own web portals, accessing the latest research and advice from their home computers.
Mr Walsh said DPI staff would also have instant on-farm access to a wealth of services and information through mobile computing equipment.
“Specific information about farmers or their properties can be captured quickly and easily, farmer attendance at an extension event can be confirmed and the progress of a grant application made last week can all be checked, via computer by staff in the field,” Mr Walsh said.
“These upgrades are important in ensuring that agriculture and the industries which rely on it remain at the cutting edge of technology.
“We are committed to working with the sector to deliver the information it needs to grow and prosper,” Mr Walsh said.

More than 187,000 trout have been stocked into formerly drought-affected lakes and reservoirs across Victoria, thanks in part to $231,000 from fishing licence revenue.
Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree received the majority of 90,000 rainbow trout fry stocked in November while another 75,000 brown trout fry will be released into waterways around the state this month.
Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, and responsible for fisheries,said a large number of small trout had been sourced at short notice from the Department of Primary Industries’ own hatchery at Snobs Creek and other private trout hatcheries in northeast Victoria.
“We have been fortunate to find so many trout available, given few growers had anticipated such a wet season after many years of lower than average rainfall,” Mr Walsh said.
“To have so many lakes fill with water in one year, and to stock them so quickly, exceeded most freshwater anglers’ expectations.”
Mr Walsh said anglers could look forward to improved fishing over the next few years with an increase in funding under the Coalition Government.
“The Baillieu-Ryan Government has committed to returning all the revenue raised from the sale of recreational fishing licences to the industry for infrastructure works, stocking and education programs,” Mr Walsh said.
“In addition, we will increase funding to the industry by $4 million over the next four years.”
Other stockings into recovering waters include:
* 4,000 into Greenhill Lake, near Ararat, and 2,000 into Lake Beaufort
* 15,000 into Cairn Curran Reservoir near Maldon 
* 3,000 into Teddington (Top) Reservoir and 1,500 in Teddington (Bottom) Reservoir 
* 10,000 into Hepburn Lagoon and 7,000 into Newlyn Reservoir 
* 2,000 into Deep Lake at Derrinallum 
* 4,000 into Barkers Creek Reservoir, Harcourt, in addition to 1,000 stocked in June 
* 10,000 into Rocklands Reservoir, Balmoral, in addition to 5,000 stocked in July 
* 10,000 into Tullaroop Reservoir, Carisbrook
* 10,000 into Tooliorook Lake, Lismore
* 5,000 into Bostock Reservoir at Ballan
* 5,000 into Lake Bolac
* 4,000 into Batyo Catyo Lake at Rich Avon 
* 5,000 into Lake Burrumbeet, near Ballarat
Fisheries Victoria executive director Anthony Hurst said while the trout stocking season was drawing to a close, preparations were underway for the beginning of native fish stocking season.
“Several recovering lakes will receive Murray cod and golden perch this summer, so it’s an exciting time now the rain has finally come,” Mr Hurst said.
For more about fish stocking visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing

The Coalition Government has signed off on a $73.2 million initiative to safeguard Victoria’s agricultural sector, upgrade infrastructure and improve on-farm productivity and profitability.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh today announced the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) would expand facilities in regional Victoria and establish a new biosecurity centre of excellence at its existing site in Attwood.
“These investments in facilities, equipment and expertise are needed to help grow and strengthen Victoria’s vital agricultural sector,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said $44.5 million will be spent to allow up to 300 staff from across Melbourne to be based at the Attwood complex.
The investment will also create a dedicated incident control centre to co-ordinate response to biosecurity outbreaks such as locusts and equine influenza.
Mr Walsh said an additional $8.3 million would be spent to establish a new DPI centre at Warrnambool, which is a major growth area for the department.
“Weeds, pests and diseases have the potential to strip millions, even billions of dollars from the profitability of the agricultural sector,” Mr Walsh said.
“Our government is committed to providing our scientists and technical experts with the very best conditions and equipment to be able to do their job.”
When Agribio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, at Bundoora is finished late next year, DPI scientists from suburban offices in Knoxfield, Frankston and Attwood will move there.
The expansion of DPI Attwood will ensure staff remaining at the suburban sites have excellent new facilities to move into when the other offices close in a couple of years.
The new facility will accommodate up to 100 staff at a location yet to be determined. It is likely to also house staff from Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
“This announcement is a bricks and mortar investment in the future of regional Victoria and the services DPI provides,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said an additional $12.4 million would be spent to upgrade and enhance glass house facilities at Hamilton, Horsham and Bundoora and $8 million invested in refurbishment at key regional locations including Tatura and Mildura.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) staff are set to remove about 4,400 chestnut trees in a bid to eradicate Australia's first outbreak of chestnut blight, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said today.
Mr Walsh said the department, in consultation with the Commonwealth and other states and territories, had determined that the disease was eradicable.
"We are now working with landholders to remove about 400 infected chestnut trees and up to 4000 at risk chestnut trees on nine properties in the Ovens Valley to protect this valuable industry," Mr Walsh said.
"The costs and work associated with removing the trees will be borne by the department to lessen the financial impact of this outbreak on growers."
Mr Walsh said the Commonwealth had also agreed to reimburse commercial chestnut growers for trees which were removed.
"Chestnut blight has had a disastrous effect on chestnut production and native chestnut forests in Europe and the United States," Mr Walsh said.
"The disease, which was first detected in Australia in the Ovens Valley in September, is a huge risk to growers.
"The department has acted swiftly to contain the outbreak and protect the chestnut industry, which produces more than 80 per cent of the nation's chestnuts.
"Since the disease was detected, about 150,000 chestnut trees throughout Victoria have been surveyed for signs of infection.
"Precautionary inspections of 500 oak trees and 1200 eucalypts in and around infected properties have also taken place.
"This has involved surveying more than 900 residential and 300 commercial properties and restricting the movement of chestnut blight host material from the north east of the state to prevent further spread of the disease.
"Further work will also be undertaken by the department over the next three weeks to determine whether more trees are at risk of infection in the Ovens Valley and should be removed.
"DPI expects that all affected trees will be removed by the start of January and the area will be declared free from chestnut blight by the spring of 2013 following extensive disease monitoring," Mr Walsh said.
Discussions are also underway with interstate authorities to determine if there will be any restrictions on the movement of chestnut and oak material from affected areas of Victoria while the eradication program proceeds. The cause of the outbreak is still uncertain.

Member for Swan Hill and Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh, spent time inspecting the flood ravaged districts around Serpentine and Durham Ox this week.
After visiting the region on Friday with Deputy Premier Peter Ryan, Mr Walsh also returned over the weekend visiting other areas hard hit by the floods.
“This is disastrous for farmers and small businesses throughout the region,” Mr Walsh said.
“After ten years of drought, the threat of locusts and now this, it is just gut wrenching for everyone involved.
“As a former food producer myself I fully understand the heartache these farmers are going through,” he said.
“I urge all affected farmers and small business owners to register with Rural Finance to access the assistance packages that are available from the Government.
“The process of cleaning up properties and rebuilding of fences and other infrastructure will take considerable time but it is important that everyone affected accesses the services and support that is available,” Mr Walsh said.
“Unfortunately, the difficulties being faced aren’t over with the predicted storms during the course of this week only going to make things worse.
“It is essential that the three levels of Government work hand in hand to ensure support and relief are provided as quickly as possible to those who need it.
“I will be submitting an application to extend exceptional circumstances assistance beyond the ceasing date of March 31,” Mr Walsh said.
“The impact of these floods and the damage from the locust invasion will mean that farmers from across the State will need continuing assistance.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am extremely disappointed in the response of the DPI to reports of the spread of the noxious weed Patterson’s Curse throughout our region.
As I drive throughout parts of my electorate I see paddock after paddock being overrun by this choking weed and whilst responsibility for the control of the weed on private land lies with the landholder, it is incumbent upon the DPI to take an active role in the enforcement of the legislation requiring landholders to control weeds on their land.
Recent newspaper reports quote the DPI as stating that the overall threat of the weed is decreasing not increasing.
This is not supported by the visual evidence particularly on roadsides where there is still confusion as to who is responsible for controlling weeds and vermin.
The Parliament of Victoria has given the DPI greater powers to enforce the control of weeds and they must start using these.

John Brumby has left northern Victoria dangerously exposed to voracious hoards of hungry locusts by reneging on his promise to establish an incident control centre in Swan Hill.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Development Peter Ryan requested a briefing today at the Swan Hill locust incident control centre, only to be told that it did not exist.
“The Brumby Government’s response to the locust plague is failing. Labor has already broken a basic promise to Swan Hill and now left northern Victorian region dangerously unprepared.
“Locusts are banding around Swan Hill and Kerang but Labor’s so-called incident control centre consists of just one Department of Primary Industries’ field officer.
“In July John Brumby promised that up to 400 specially trained staff would be placed in incident control centres in Horsham, Mildura, Swan Hill, Tatura and Bendigo.
‘We are not waiting. We are taking the necessary steps now…’ (John Brumby, ‘Strikeforce of 400 to fight war on locusts’ 8/07/10) and ‘The Brumby Labor Government’s $43.5 million war on locusts includes the following
measures…announcing five locust incident control centres in Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Swan Hill, Tatura and Bendigo.’ (Joe Helper, ‘Helper: Baillieu must reprimand out-oftune Drum who has the wrong buzz on locusts’ 18/08/10).
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh said landholders were concerned that reports of sightings were not being acted on fast enough.
“By the time a field officer attends to inspect hatchings, many of the locusts have banded and moved,” Mr Walsh said.
“As usual, John Brumby’s response has been focused on spin rather than substantive action.”

Financial institutions will be required to undergo farm debt mediation with food and fibre producers before they can initiate debt recovery proceedings under a Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh announced the policy today at the campaign launch of The Nationals Member for Mildura Peter Crisp.
“In government the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition will legislate to ensure creditors undergo mediation before they can take possession of property or take other enforcement action under a farm mortgage,” Mr Walsh said.
“Victoria’s farmers are among the best in the world but more than a decade of drought, coupled with the high cost of temporary water, has seen many farming families accumulate large debts through no fault of their own.
“Many people are living with the ever-present fear of foreclosure as a result of these loans.
“The extreme stress which many families are under has led to relationship breakdowns and the loss of many farms.
“Under our plan, settlement by mediation will be voluntary for farmers and, while neither party will be forced into an agreement, it will aim for a resolution that is satisfactory for both parties.
“Farmers will have greater security knowing that a creditor cannot suddenly repossess their property and that they will have an opportunity to discuss alternative solutions with the assistance of a neutral and independent mediator.”
Mr Walsh said similar legislation already existed in New South Wales where at least 72 per cent of the time parties settled any dispute.
“A study into the effectiveness of the New South Wales program found that the majority of farmers and the overwhelming majority of lenders and representatives would use and recommend mediation again,” Mr Walsh said.
“Mediation will be even more vital in light of the water cuts proposed by the Federal Labor Government in the draft of the Murray Darling Basin plan.
“The Murray Darling Basin plan will make life even tougher for the state’s food and fibre producers and many people fear it will cause banks to rapidly foreclose on their farms.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition will relieve the pressure on farming families to enable them to focus on what they do best – producing food for our state,” Mr Walsh said.

The Brumby Government is putting the productivity of Victoria’s agricultural sector at risk by failing to monitor soil health, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said today. Mr Walsh said the Soil Health Management report, tabled by the Auditor-General in Parliament today, found the Brumby Government had no programs to monitor risks such as erosion, acidity and alkalinity on land across Victoria.
“The Auditor-General was unable to report on the success of soil health projects because soil health has been so poorly managed and monitored by the Brumby Government,” Mr Walsh said.
“The report states that ‘soil health responses are neither integrated, nor well coordinated; leading to a patchwork of unaligned and fragmented soil health projects across regions’.
“Up to 60 per cent of Victoria’s soils are prone to erosion and soil structure decline, with around 240,000 hectares affected by salinity and 8.6 million hectares subject to acidification.
“Addressing these issues is crucial to food security, the productivity of the agricultural sector and the strength of the state’s economy.
“A decline in soil health will result in a loss of agricultural output and have serious economic implications for Victoria.
“Despite the $8.7 billion contribution agriculture makes to Victoria’s economy, the Brumby Government hasn’t even bothered to monitor the health of the state’s soils.”
Mr Walsh said the Auditor-General’s report has exposed other serious flaws in the government’s soil management programs, including fragmented and inadequate data.
“The Auditor-General found that there is no whole-of-government approach or response to soil health issues,” Mr Walsh said.
“Planning and implementation of projects on private land between government agencies is uncoordinated and lacks transparency and clarity.
“The Brumby Government must urgently address these risks to underwrite the production and security of food in Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh, has ensured the future of the Victorian Young Farmers with the Coalition’s announcement of a $1 million funding commitment.
“Many rural and regional residents remember the days of a vibrant Young Farmers organisation in their district and the vital role the organisation played in providing social and educational opportunities for young people across country Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“However, with the slashing of financial support by the State Labor Government in 2000 the organisation almost went to the wall.
“If elected on November 27 the Coalition will revitalise this network by providing funding to support and expand opportunities for young people to assist them in developing their personal skills and building community leadership,” he said.
“The support, mentoring and educational opportunities the Victorian Young Farmers can provide to young people is invaluable and will be extremely significant to the future of rural and regional Victoria as we work to arrest the flow of young people away from traditional country backgrounds.
“The Coalition funding will ensure a vibrant and pro-active Young Farmers organisation which will go a long way to providing young people with the opportunities to remain or return to country Victoria to develop their careers.
“I have a great belief in the role of young men and women in the future of our food and fibre industry and the revitalisation of the Victorian Young Farmers will play a big part in this future,” Mr Walsh said.