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Victorian farmers will not be fooled by the Bracks Government’s sudden rediscovered interest in agriculture just 12 months out from the next election, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said today.

By Philip Davis - 17th November 2005 - Back to News

For too long the Bracks Government has watched noxious weeds like Patterson’s Curse, Ragwort and Blackberry take over public land, while prosecuting farmers who struggle with weeds on their own properties.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis today announced the Liberal Party’s plan to name and shame government departments and agencies into taking responsibility for weeds it has allowed to spread throughout public land.

The Liberal Party believes public and private land managers should be treated equally.

In unprecedented action, a Liberal Government will take responsibility for public weed control by enabling the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to send clean-up teams into the affected areas and recoup the costs from the relevant department.

"Under a Liberal Government, the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability will present an annual report to Parliament to name and shame Government departments and agencies who do not keep weeds under control," Mr Davis said.

"Farmers throughout Victoria have told us how continually frustrated they are about having to control weeds on their properties which have spread from Crown land.

"It is easy to see why the Bracks Government is known as the ‘neighbour from hell’ by farmers throughout the state."

How the process will work:

· Commissioner will name and shame on an annual basis

· Farmers with chronic weed problems on Crown land adjoining them can lodge a complaint with DPI

· Teams will be sent in to public land to remove the weeds

· The Government department responsible for the weeds will be sent the clean-up bill

"The compliance process and time-lines will be the same for government land managers as for private land managers," Mr Davis said.

"Farmers are fed up with the Bracks Government’s half-hearted attempts at weed control while private landholders are held to full account.

"A Liberal Government will also investigate a call from the Victorian Farmers Federation to allow farmers to use the defence that weeds on their properties originated on Crown land if they are prosecuted.

"Farmers have struggled with the burden of weeds for too long while the Bracks Government has ducked its responsibility. It is time that everyone was held accountable."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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