Yarrawonga farmer, Adam Inchbold with his four children Ernie, Harriet, Maeve and Daisy.
Yarrawonga farmer, Adam Inchbold has cautiously welcomed a pause on the controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy saying it was good to see the government had listened.
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Last Friday, the Victorian Government confirmed it would pause the tax for 12 months and announced a
Mr Inchbold said the tax was completely outrageous and he will be watching carefully to see whether it is “snuck back” in 12 months’ time.
“We were very concerned that farmers were seen as easy targets,” he said.
“And it was very upsetting that politicians would think that’s ok; I feel very strongly about that.”
Mr Inchbold works his property with his wife Ingrid, four young children, his parents and several employees.
He said the Victorian Government had shown themselves to be completely out of touch and untrustworthy through the ESVL “debacle”.
“They have seen farmers as easy targets to help get themselves out of the economic mess they have caused in the state,” he said.
Dryland crop farmer, Jamie Cummins operates his property 10kms out of Yarrawonga and said the recent rains were a lifesaver for production.
“Things were going to die, it bought us time,” Mr Cummins said.
“We need follow up rain, but we’re fortunate enough to be back in the game.
“I understand there are areas worse off than us; I feel for the people in the Mallee, those with stud stock and ewes.
“I understand there are areas worse off than us; I feel for the people in the Mallee, those with stud stock and ewes.
“Hay is getting incredibly hard to get; I’ve had that many phone calls from farmers looking for hay.”
Mr Cummins said the fire levy was “going to kill us”.
He would have been forced to pay $80,000 a year, the equivalent of one full unit of labour, even though he has his own fire truck, which he readily volunteers where it’s needed.
Last Friday, Premier Jacinta Allen announced an extra $37.7 million in small cash grants and additional funding for financial counselling and mental health support, along with a dedicated Drought Task Force.
The announcement followed a week of intense pressure on the government in parliament, where a motion, moved by the Liberal opposition calling for increased drought assistance was passed unanimously.
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy says the drought package is too little, too late.
But Northern Victoria Region MPs say the package has missed the mark.
Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy said the reponse was “too little, too late and for too few”.
“This isn’t about politics, it’s about survival,” Mr McCurdy said.
Northern Victoria Region MP Wendy Lovell said the latest package offered some assistance for water cartage, and extended support to all Victorian farmers statewide, but offered no direct financial assistance for feed or fodder delivery, nor subsidise water supply for agricultural purposes.
“Animals are starving, the price of hay and feed is going through the roof, and what farmers need right now is direct financial assistance to help feed livestock, and transport subsidies,” Ms Lovell said.
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