Agriculture is not just another land use. Our farmers grow our food, support our regional economies and underpin communities right across Victoria. But under Labor farmland is seen as vacant land ripe for development. Under Labor, productive farmland and property rights are under increasing pressure from poorly planned development, transmission infrastructure, renewable energy projects, mining…
I move: That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Environment Effects Act 1978 in relation to agricultural land and for other purposes. Victoria is Australia’s largest agriculture-producing state, accounting for approximately 28 per cent of Australia’s gross value of agricultural production, with a farmgate…
The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, has called on the Allan Labor Government to take urgent action to address the growing impact of wild dog attacks across western Victoria, warning that farming families are facing devastating livestock losses and ongoing emotional distress. Ms Kealy, who is also the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, recently met…
Victorian farmers are being hit from all sides, yet a simple, practical issue like weed control continues to be ignored by the Allan Labor Government. The Nationals Member for Lowan and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said invasive weeds such as gorse were spreading unchecked across regional Victoria, placing further pressure on landholders already…
After years of advocacy from local farmers, the agriculture sector and The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, the Allan Labor Government has finally admitted it needs to do more to address concerns about mineral sands mining in the Wimmera Mallee region. The government has announced a Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group, which…
The Nationals in government will halt the unpopular VNI West project and bring back community consultation to Victoria’s energy debate. Nationals Member for Lowan and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said landholders across the state had seen their property rights taken away as the Allan Labor Government aggressively pursued its ideology-driven energy policy over…
The Nationals have been calling for the Allan Labor Government to act and secure fuel supply for Victorian farmers since mid-March. It has taken far too long for Victorian Labor Government to secure an emergency diesel supply for farmers, with some growers reducing planting due to concerns surrounding fuel supply for the entire growing season.…
Drought-affected farmers across western Victoria are being unfairly excluded from support as rigid eligibility boundaries fail to reflect conditions on the ground. The Nationals Member for Lowan and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy has again urged the state Labor government to restructure drought support measures to ensure equitable access for affected farmers. “Across Lowan,…
A Nationals and Liberals Government will support Victoria Police to strengthen its Farm Crime Squad as part of a plan to recruit 3000 more additional Victoria Police officers. Under Labor, Victoria’s Farm Crime Unit has been reduced to just a couple of dedicated officers covering the entire state, and as a result the number of…
Victoria has yet another new Agriculture Minister – the fifth in the past six years, and the third this term alone – confirming agriculture is not a priority for the Allan Labor Government. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy said the constant churn shows a government that has sidelined one of Victoria’s most important industries.…
