“Mr Andrews is to be congratulated on being elected as Premier and the VFF look forward to working with the Labor government over the next four years,” VFF president Peter Tuohey said.

Mr Tuohey said the VFF’s top priorities for discussion with the government were:

• $460 million from the sale of the Rural Finance Corporation to be directed to rural Victoria;

• Upgrade of the regional rail freight network;

• Young Farmers Duty Exemption and Concession Scheme;

• Right to Farm: re-establish link between agriculture and developments in the Farming Zone;

• Fire Services Property Levy review;

• Rates and local government and an inquiry into local government sustainability;

• Department of Environment and Primary Industries and reviewing loss of staff and services;

• Water Bill 2014: the VFF is keen to sit down with the new government to review the bill;

• Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project: keen to discuss timelines and irrigator concerns with the new minister;

• Macalister Irrigation District 2030 Project: a commitment towards the $60 million cost of stage 1B of the project;

• Bunyip Food Bowl pipeline: the delivery of more recycled water from the eastern treatment plant to farmers;

• Port of Melbourne: government support to appoint the Essential Services Commission oversight of port pricing and access;

• $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund;

• Drought support and access to financial counselling, the rapid roll-out of the $30 million federal government drought concessional loans, and monitoring the Victorian drought and farmer needs;

• $20 million Food Source Victoria Plan;

• Australian-first Government Procurement Policy;

• Onshore gas;

• Genetically modified crops and pastures;

• Energy: Labor has committed to extend the VEET scheme. If the scheme is to be extended the VFF is keen to ensure farm-based technologies are recognised (deemed) under the VEET;

• Riparian fencing;

• Murray Park Legislation: the VFF is opposed to the gazettal of the Murray Park.

• Native vegetation;

• Farm biosecurity;

• Electronic identification of sheep;

• Grain trader licensing; and

• To work with the government on continuing the $10 fox bounty.

Mr Tuohey agreed relationships between Labor and agricultural bodies and farmers had not always been the warmest.

“But I will be trying to see the new minister as soon as possible,” he said.

“And we will go to that meeting with a spirit of co-operation.”