DELIVERY of the federal government’s $60 million farm finance assistance loans moved a step closer yesterday.
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Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh said he spoke briefly to federal Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon and felt confident of a speedy resolution.
“It was a positive conversation. Joel Fitzgibbon said he does not want to play politics on the issue and that he just wants to find a resolution,” Mr Walsh said. “I feel confident that things will move quickly.”
The low interest loans, announced by the federal government on April 27, have remained stalled as the two governments negotiate who will meet administration costs.
“The federal government can borrow at three per cent and will loan the money at 4.5 per cent. It has been our stance that the administration cost should be met out of this profit and that is still where we stand,” Mr Walsh said.
“I will be having a more extensive discussion with Mr Fitzgibbon in the next day or two.”
Meanwhile, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has called on the Victorian government to step in with immediate assistance to help farmers fund fodder for their herds.
VFF president Peter Tuohey said the loans would take some time to reach farmers.
“In the short term we need action now to ensure we support our farmers and their livestock through the next six weeks.
“We need Victorian Agri-culture Minister Peter Walsh to step in and offer assistance to help farmers source fodder for hungry herds,” Mr Tuohey said.
“There are farmers whose cattle are in light condition and they’ve run out of credit. So we need to find solutions for them and their livestock,” he said.
Mr Walsh said he understood the difficulties farmers were facing.
“If we can assist in some way to help farmers to find fodder we will do so.”
However, he ruled out financial assistance to fund fodder purchases, repeating his earlier statement that drought assistance was not a possibility.
“The situation does not meet the current definition of drought. If there’s a desire to change the definition, that’s something that can be pursued, but it would take time,” he said.
Concerns about the feed shortage in the south-west made national news following a statement last week from Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber, claiming there was an animal welfare crisis in the region.
Mr Barber, campaigning in Warrnambool yesterday, said he had not personally seen any evidence of an animal welfare crisis. “The statement was based on information received in an email that was widely circulated last week.”
Vets, farmers and the VFF have all denied that there is an animal welfare issue.
Warrnambool vet Jon Kelly said last week the feed shortage was being well managed by farmers who had culled cows they could not afford to feed.
His comments were echoed on ABC radio yesterday by veterinarian Bill Morgan, Princetown farmer Nick Renyard and Mr Touhey.