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Farmers’ Market Support Program to return: only under Liberal Nationals

An elected Liberal Nationals Government plans to bring back the Farmers’ Market Support Program axed by Labor.

By Portal Admin - 22nd October 2018 - Back to News

Background

Only an elected Liberal Nationals Government will bring back the Farmers’ Market Support Program, quietly axed by Labor.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh announced the $2 million fund in March, also making a commitment to work with small food producers to cut red tape.

But instead of matching the commitment, Labor’s Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford is trying to pull the wool over farmers’ eyes.

Today, Ms Pulford claimed "in the past four years, the Labor Government has supported regional communities establish and grow farmers’ markets through the Farmers’ Markets Support Program".

But funding for the Farmers’ Market Support Program ran out in 2015.

The former Liberal Nationals government funded the Farmers’ Markets Support Program for four years in the 2011-12 State Budget, but Labor failed to renew the funding.

Only an elected Liberal Nationals Government will restore this $2 million fund, work with small food producers to cut red tape and invest $40 million to promote Victorian agricultural produce in growing export markets.

Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh

City-centric Labor’s desperate to re-write the past four years of neglecting Regional Victoria in a desperate attempt to win votes.

Our farmers’ markets are famous for high-quality, fresh, delicious produce, playing an important role in supporting regional and urban communities around Victoria.

Farmers’ markets give our producers the opportunity to sell direct to their customers and also encourage people to buy locally grown and produced food which in turn supports Victorian jobs and businesses.

An elected Liberal Nationals Government will support our small food producers and farmers’ markets, restoring the successful grants program after it was quietly axed by Daniel Andrews.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com