It’s been all go in the VFF Farming Systems space, with the team working on a number of issues.
ANIMAL CARE & PROTECTION BILL
In March, the VFF submitted its response to the Victorian Government’s draft Animal Care and Protection Bill, working closely with our members and relevant industry partners to establish our position.
We are currently engaged in discussions with Agriculture Victoria and parliamentarians including the Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence. As we move forward, our efforts will intensify, focusing on advocacy with crossbench parliament members and putting pressure on the government to consider adopting VFF’s recommendations.
BIOSECURITY PROTECTION LEVY
The VFF has called on Victorian crossbench Senators Thorpe, Van, and Babet to stand with farmers in opposition to the Albanese Government’s Biosecurity Protection Levy.
The bill to introduce the tax has been sent to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for further scrutiny. Victorian farmers, already shouldering heavy levies for biosecurity and pest management, would be unfairly impacted by the new levy, effectively subsidising biosecurity measures that benefit international competitors importing food into Australia, exacerbating an unequal competitive landscape.