I address my adjournment matter to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. I have travelled extensively across my electorate and worked with wonderful communities, but I am often asked what our government is doing to assist communities in dealing with the curse of noxious weeds and pest animals. Pest plants and animals are a major challenge for effective rural and land management and pose significant threats to Victoria’s natural biodiversity balance. Many people in my electorate have applauded quite loudly the minister’s recent decision to initiate a fox bounty across the state and a wild dog bounty in fire-affected areas.
The strategic management of weeds and pest animals can deliver significant savings to farmers, land-holders and the state. Successful pest management relies on very strong partnerships between community, industry and government.
I ask the minister to provide me with information on measures in this year’s budget that are being put into place to assist farmers in the fight against noxious weeds and pests animals.