Brumby Government Pledges $10 Million To Help Victoria’s Farmers
A future Brumby Government will invest $10 million to tackle invasive weeds pests and wild dogs, the Agriculture Minister Joe Helper, announced yesterday.
Mr Helper announced that a future Brumby Labor Government would invest in night-time aerial baiting of wild dogs, boost programs to tackle high-priority weeds and water weeds as well as provide more support for local government and farmers.
“We want our farmers to be among the most productive, sustainable and competitive in the world and we know weeds, pests and wild dogs cause them heartache,” Mr Helper said.
“The Brumby Labor Government has a strong record in working with Victoria’s agricultural sector to fight invasive weeds and pests and through our $205 million Future Farming Strategy we are investing in a new era of innovation for our farmers.
“But we know there is always more to do and that’s why we will take new action to support Victoria’s agricultural sector to minimise the damage caused by weeds and pests and maximise their productivity.
“We will strengthen Victoria’s forest biosecurity, implement a comprehensive approach to aerial baiting for wild dogs using infrared technology and ramp up enforcement for high priority weeds such as gorse and serrated tussock.”
Mr Helper said there would be a range of new measures including:
- $1.2 million to deliver an aerial baiting program for wild dogs using night time infrared sensors in defined buffer zone areas of north-east Victoria and Gippsland;
- Building on the work of the FoxStop program by committing a further $1 million to link local and regional hunter groups to increase opportunities for large-scale fox drives;
- An additional $2 million to ramp up the enforcement of high-priority weeds that are of community concern across Victoria;
- $2.4 million to establish a new Forest Biosecurity Team to develop enhanced forest biosecurity surveillance for earlier detection of invasive species;
- $1.5 million to boost action on water weeds including enforcing a ban on the illegal trade in the aquarium industry of weeds such as water hyacinth and salvinia;
- Continue working with the Sporting Shooters Association Australia with $800,000 to deliver pest animal programs along the Murray River and in eastern Victoria; and
- A $600,000 boost to increase the online presence of the Government’s Landcare portal.
Topics: 2010, agriculture, Australia, Brumby Labor Government, business, commuters, Doncaster, economic development, economic growth, Economy, elections, employment, farmers, farms, funding, Future Farming Strategy, Governance, government, innovation, investment, jobs, Joe Helper, labor, moniter, monitor, news, pests, policy, politics, Premier John Brumby, public safety, Rowville, society, sustainability, technology, Ted Baillieu, transportation, trust, Victoria, Victorian Treasury, water weeds, weeds, wild dogs
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