July 24, 2008
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has accused the Federal Government of snubbing local farmers by leaving Gippsland off the map for a series of public forums into government drought policy.
Mr Chester said the ‘Expert Social Panel’ – commissioned by the Rudd Government to conduct public forums – would visit 25 towns across Australia but the region east of Melbourne had been totally ignored. The forums started this week.
“The closest the panel will come to Gippsland is Shepparton in the north-east of the state and Colac in the south-west,” Mr Chester said.
“Any Gippsland farmers wishing to participate in a public forum will have to travel at their own expense for about six hours to appear before the panel.”
Mr Chester said he supported the national review of drought policy but objected to Gippsland being left out of the itinerary for the assessment of social impacts by the expert panel.
“According to its own website, the panel is considering the social impacts of drought on farming families and rural communities along with any gaps and areas for improvement in support services,” Mr Chester said.
“Clearly, this is the first gap. Gippsland is one of the most productive agricultural regions in Australia and it has been badly affected by drought over the past decade.
“Yet we aren’t being given a reasonable opportunity to participate in this review.
“Every region is different and each community has its own story to tell in relation to the social impact of droughts. It would make sense for the Rudd Government to ensure that the Expert Social Panel held at least one public forum east of Melbourne.”
Mr Chester has written to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Bourke to seek the addition of a Gippsland public forum to the review process.
If the Minister refuses to intervene, the only way Gippslanders can have their say is by sending a written submission to the panel by the Friday, August 8, 2008, deadline.
Further details on the drought policy review are available on the website: www.daff.gov.au/droughtpolicyreview