There'll be a $142.5 boost for biosecurity in this year's Victorian budget, the biggest ticket item for the sector in this annual year's fiscal statement.
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Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said the four-year investment was the largest of its type in the state's history.
The minister revealed foot and mouth disease had been detected several times, in packaged salami being brought through Melbourne airport.
There have also been sporadic anthrax outbreaks, across northern Victoria.
"Biosecurity is fundamental to the future of agriculture; it is something the Victorian Farmers Federation has been campaigning for," Ms Symes said.
"This is a great budget for agriculture, investing in biosecurity ensures our farmers are protected and ensures we can raise awareness about the risks that are posed by different practices, whether it is international travel or animal activists."
The biosecurity funding would be rolled out, over the next four years.
"We need the experts, to be able to attract the best and brightest, so having four-year funding is going to be something that is welcomed," she said.
Animal activists
One of the most significant risks from farm invasions by animal activists was to biosecurity.
"I think we need to build awareness, entering farms, secure pig farms, for example, without understanding the types of (biosecurity) requirement on those farms, can pose a great threat to our entire agricultural industry
"It could shut down exports, for example.
"I don't think some people are aware of the dangers to the economy of those practices."
Funding would enable the employment of more detection staff, veterinarians and research and development.
"The threats are real, and the damage they could cause is absolutely something we don't want to be confronted with," Ms Symes said.
"It's been year on year, but this is four year, guaranteed funding - so we'll get better value for money, have a strong presence, and get the best and brightest."
Ms Symes said Victoria was Australia's number one food producer.
"We want to keep it that way, so we're investing in our hardworking farming communities so they can better deal with the challenges posed by climate change and biosecurity risks," Ms Symes said.
The Government flagged the investment in biosecurity as part of its Delivering for Regional and Rural Victoria package of $2.6billion, which featured extra money for health, schools, TAFE education and transport upgrades.
Election promises
The budget also delivered on a State election promise to support the next generation of farming jobs, with $7.2 million invested in skills training for the agricultural industry.
That included the delivery of the Certificate III in Shearing, from next year, and upgrading agricultural colleges at Longerenong, Dookie and Glenormiston.
Small-scale producers would be assisted to take their goods to the world, with $10.2 million to help them expand their operations.
The budget contains $5m funding to ensure the state's wine industry continues to grow, boosting marketing, targeted trade campaigns and support for local producers.
The government announced $1 million was being provided for export-focused marking activities, to promote Victoria's food and fibre sector, internationally.
The budget also provides $3 million to improve health and safety outcomes, on farm, working with the Victorian Farmers Federation to provide two new safety officers, a farm workplace safety campaign and face-to-face health checks.
Funding will be provided to maintain on-ground wildlife management services to minimise the impact of wild dogs, to reduce the risks to primary producers, biodiversity and community health.
The Government also said it would continue the flexible approach in dealing with declared species and new and emerging pests and weeds, through the Good Neighbour Program.
The Government has put $425m for road maintenance, across regional Victoria.
A further $10.7 million will go towards upgrading and renewing bridges around Victoria.
The government has also committed a further $4m to ensure the future of the National Centre for Farmer Health, Hamilton.
It will also continue to provide for the Young Farmers Scholarship, boosting funding by half a million dollars.
The State Government has announced it'll provide funding to Dairy Food Safety Victoria to implement its Dairy RegTech 2022 model, which uses digital methods to reduce the regulatory burden on the industry.
The funding will help implement real-time data collection and analytics, to monitor the food safety performance of dairy businesses and demonstrate compliance with food safety regulations.
The funding will also include education and incentives to promote a positive food safety culture.
The new model aims to help the industry provide a higher level of food safety assurance at a lower cost.
VFF disappointment
The Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed the budget, noting some positive commitments but point out what it said were glaring funding gaps.
"We are pleased to see significant resourcing for essential areas such as biosecurity and fit-for-purpose roads, which benefit all Victorians," VFF President David Jochinke said.
The VFF reacted positively to the focus on farm safety, health checks and the support for agriculture careers, including shearer training.
"Cutting regional payroll tax to 25pc of the metropolitan rate by 2022-23 is also great news for growing regional businesses," Mr Jochinke said.
But while there were some significant promises, the government has missed an opportunity to fund dedicated Victoria Police agriculture liaison officers to help fight farm crime.
"We could not find any mention of the rural and regional energy network, or desperately needed rates relief while we wait for the rates review to unfold," Mr Jochinke said.
"Many of our farmers across the State are still experiencing drought and it was frustrating not to see a greater focus on support and adaptation," he said.
Ms Symes said government had committed $45m in drought funding, which was already being rolled out.
"There is still money, available under that," she said.
"Drought funding is not really a budget line item, it never has been, it's always been a response."
Mr Jochinke said it was also disappointing there was no clear commitment on a completion date for the Murray Basin Rail Project.
"Premier Andrews noted that this Budget delivers 'wealth, momentum and opportunity'.
"We would like to see this apply to all communities and industries across Victoria.
"If we are to continue as the 'strongest performing economy in the country', agriculture needs to be front and centre as one of our greatest economic assets."
Opposition criticism
But State Opposition Agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said he'd rate the budget a one and a half, when it came to the farm sector and regional Victoria.
"At first blush, there is no plan and no vision for regional Victoria," Mr Walsh said.
"Funding for regional Victorian initiatives is suffering to pay for cost blowouts on infrastructure projects, in Melbourne."
"There's no billion dollar regional development growth fund, that funded more than 1000 projects in regional Victoria."
The Government axed the fund, which the opposition claimed delivered $1billion, over six years, into regional Victorian communities.
The opposition promised to restore what it called a $1b Decentralisation Fund in the lead up to last year's state election.
Mr Walsh said the axing of the fund had resulted in a reduction in staff, in regional Victoria.
"Labor has starved regional communities of funds ever since they came to office and this year's State Budget is no different," Mr Walsh said.
"As well as axing the Regional Growth Fund (Premier) Daniel Andrews has also slashed Regional Development Victoria's base funding which will mean program closures and job losses in regional communities.
"The program successfully helped businesses to move to Regional Victoria, like bringing more than 200 jobs to Maryborough when True Foods relocated and invested in important community assets like the Mildura Riverfront Precinct.
"Where will these funds come from now?"
Mr Walsh said there was no commitment to improved passenger rail, including its return to Mildura and new long haul services to Shepparton and the west, or funding for the Swan Hill hospital.
"There's no funding to replace the slow, old, unreliable V/Line trains for passengers on the Warrnambool, Swan Hill, north-east and Bairnsdale lines and no funding to expand rail services for the people of Mildura, Horsham and Hamilton," Mr Walsh said.
There was also no funding for the Swan Hill hospital redevelopment or the Mildura South sporting precinct.
The Government had also failed to fund the $260 million Shepparton bypass, despite the Federal Coalition promising $208m, or contribution to complete work on the Princes Highway.
Farmers shunned
Farmers had been shunned with no money for council rate relief for those affected by drought, no commitment to a rural crime squad and a $2.8 million cut to agriculture research and development.
"The only thing Regional Victoria can take some comfort in is the return of the Federal Liberal-Nationals Government - a government that thankfully does have an exciting vision for decentralisation and plans that will support and grow our regional communities," Mr Walsh said.
"While Daniel Andrews starves the regions, the Federal Liberal-Nationals Government is delivering by investing billions into critical projects like the Rail Revival, water and irrigation projects, Swan Hill's hospital, Shepparton's bypass, Gippsland's Princes Hwy and more."
But Mr Walsh welcomed the additional biosecurity funding.
"I think the Government has realised that long term funding for biosecurity is important," Mr Walsh said.
"Previously they had been funding it on a short term, initiative based funding, that made it difficult to maintain staff, as there was no guarantee of employment.
"I think pressure and criticism from the agricultural sector and the Opposition meant the government had finally been forced to act."
There'd been an increase in taxes, despite Premier Daniel Andrew's promise not to do so.
"The Premier has introduced another three new taxes in this budget, on top of the previously 10-11, so I would give the budget about one and a half."