VFF backs drought aid move
Posted
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed a decision by the Federal Government to reinstate Exceptional Circumstances (EC) assistance for farmers in central and East Gippsland.
Farmers in the East Gippsland and Wellington shires, apart from those in the Macalister Irrigation District, have had their EC payments extended until April next year.
It comes after the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) was forced to review an earlier decision to cut the payments at the end of September.
VFF president Simon Ramsay says it is a great outcome for the region's farmers.
"I do congratulate the local farmers in the shires to help provide the data for this review and finally for the Exceptional Circumstance to roll over to next April," he said.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Joe Helper has congratulated his department for its work gathering data to support the EC application.
Mr Helper was accused of being slow to act when farmers started their campaign to have the Government's original decision reviewed.
But he says the Department of Primary Industries worked hard to ensure the Federal Government had all the necessary information.
"The State Government and the Commonwealth, particularly NRAC, I think it was a positive engagement, the fact that NRAC changed its recommendations because of drought declaration for East Gippsland is vindication of that," he said.
