Mond

Thursday, 9 November 2006

SYKES RENEWS CALLS FOR FREIGHT SUBSIDY

Victorian farmers need freight subsidies for transport of fodder and stock as is available in NSW according to Bill Sykes, Nationals Member for Benalla.

Dr Sykes said, “My phone is running hot with stock agents and livestock owners asking for Victorian farmers to be treated the same as their NSW counterparts who get freight subsidies for the transport of fodder and stock.

“Without the equivalent freight subsidy, Victorian farmers are at about a $30 per ton disadvantage when purchasing fodder compared with NSW farmers.

“Similarly, the cost of getting breeding stock off properties which are fast running out of water needs to be lessened to ensure that we still have breeding stock when the drought breaks.”

Dr Sykes continued, “The Federal Government’s response to this drought has been extremely rapid and supportive. There was more good news with this week’s announcement of businesses which service farmers, being declared eligible for interest rate subsidies and other assistance measures available to farmers.

“The Victorian Government’s response has been more reactive with some good measures but other very much ‘knee-jerk’, bandaid responses.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “Freight subsidies are a State Government issue. I call on Mr Bracks to immediately implement freight subsidies for fodder and livestock being sent away on agistment.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989