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With the support of members the VFF continues to secure substantial benefits through lobbying. Protection of Livestock exportsSecured funding from the Australian Farmers Fighting Fund to launch legal action against animal rights extremists. Succeeded in getting the Victorian Government to amend the Crimes Act to ensure people charged with contamination of goods with intent to cause economic loss. Ports of Portland and Port Adelaide open for twelve months of the year for live export trade. Precipitated ACCC involvement though amendment of Trade Practices Act to allow activist to be sued. Saving industry millions in the future. Heavy sheep/ram sedation Heavy sheep sedation for shearing not mandatory. Saving of around 80c per sheep. Metering extensions Government to reconsider its policy to require meters on all water bores, pumps and other diversions Meters will now only be installed on pumps licensed to draw more than 10 megalitres a year Roads to Recovery Programme Extension of the Federal Government's Roads to Recovery program to $69.1 million Dairy Funding The UDV secured $11m for dairy in the 2005 Provincial Statement, including a $6m dairy local roads package and a subsidy scheme to help improve farm gate access for B-doubles. This package has led to another $5m being allocated for incentives for agricultural and horticultural producers. The UDV also won four million dollars for On-Farm Energy Update grants, to help upgrade single phase power systems, to be rolled out later in 2007. The VFF’s drought website was an initiative of a UDV District Council president in Gippsland and was driven forward by the UDV. The UDV also helped secure funding from the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation for the website and the VFF Regional Drought Coordinator. The Developing Dairy Communities, Building the Capacity of Younger People in project was awarded funding from both the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation and the Federal Government. This is the first cross-industry partnership of its type and the coordinators have started work with the UDV and are planning events to roll out this project. Growing our industry has been a mark of the UDV’s achievements with our involvement in the development of the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia and the Young Farmer Advisory Group to Central Council holding its inaugural meeting. Drought Relief $1.75 million for stock containment areas to assistance in maintenance of livestock productivity. $3.75 million drought apprentices retention bonus from the State Government, designed for dairy at UDV’s request. $1m for emergency supply bores $5,000 rebate on water bills and deferred payments for bills of more than $5m $4.3million to pump the Waranga system. Managed Investment Schemes The VFF lobbied for farmers concerned that Managed Investment Schemes potentially distort land, commodity and water values, making it hard for the average farmer to compete. As part of our lobbying against Managed Investment Schemes, the VFF/UDV has: - undertaken local advocacy programs to help members join in lobbying efforts - organised a delegation to Canberra in October 2006 to lobby politicians directly - secured a high-level meeting with the Senior Adviser to Federal Treasurer Peter Costello in January 2007. The Australian Taxation Office is now reviewing the tax concessions for non-forestry Managed Investment Schemes, which the VFF/UDV hopes will reduce the prolific growth of these schemes and the adverse impact they are having on dairy farmers. Tax concessions are expected to end in July 2008. NLIS Secured $20 million in Federal Government funding for NLIS State Government to provide $1 million to assist with implementation of NLIS Sheep and goats. Tail tags no longer need be applied to cattle identified with an NLIS The price of NLIS ear tags has also been reduced to $1.80, blues to $2.60 Horticulture Code of Conduct Implementation in May. Will provide clear and transparent trading terms for growers and traders. MIS The VFF has successfully lobbied the Government to strip tax concessions for non-forestry managed investment schemes from July 1 Fuel Taxes Lobbied State and Commonwealth Governments to reject proposed increase in fuel taxes Relief Bushfire Funding Obtained $125,000 emergency relief funding from Government to assist with the immediate aftermath of January 2006 fires. Regional Rail Freight Network State Government committed to regaining control of Victoria’s freight rail infrastructure, $24 million in track maintenance for 2007. Pest Animals State Government committed an additional $ 4 million dollars for controlling pests and weeds on public and private land. Wild dog aerial baiting trial VFF has achieved a commitment from the State Government to conduct a full scale aerial baiting trial in areas of North East Victoria. Development of VFF Single Desk Model Complete separation of AWB(I) from AWB Ltd, gaining wide grower support. Consultation on security sensitive chemical restrictions Lobbying by the VFF will ensure farmers and industry get a number of opportunities to influence the Federal Governments proposals to restrict access to chemicals Record Keeping The VFF has successfully lobbied the Federal Government to amend the way piece rates are to be recorded in the Workplace Relations Act. Under the Act, employers are required to keep hours of work records for all employees with a base annual salary below $55,000 per annum. In relation to piece work rates, there was significant difficulty and a degree of uncertainty regarding the calculations necessary to determine hourly rates for piecework employees. As a result, a letter was sent to the Government requesting an amendment. The Government responded and on 13 November 2006, the previous regulation for piecework wages to be expressed as an hourly rate was deleted. This was a significant win for agricultural employers who would have had to waste considerable time in calculating piece rates into hourly rates. Forklift Licence Under new legislation, forklift attachments to a tractor will not require a forklift license but the exemption for forklifts operating in primary production will sunset under new consolidated regulations. The VFF and WorkSafe are working together to identify farmers who were previously exempt from the licensing requirements, to reclaim their forklift license. As part of the partnership with WorkSafe, VFF members will be rebated in full for the forklift training course. The full rebate is subject to terms and conditions. Click here to download our most recent VFF Achievements Brochure (PDF) |