VACC was on hand to lend its support to the Goulburn and Murray Valley communities by participating in a convoy of hundreds of trucks and tractors and attending a rally held at the SPC Global Ltd cannery in Shepparton.
VACC franchise dealer members, Paul Bertoli (Bertoli Farm Machinery), Steven Martin (Ken Muston Automotive), Jarrod Thompson (Thompson Motor Group), VACC Area Manager Northern Victoria Michael Kelly and VACC Industry Policy Advisor Michael McKenna were on hand to voice their concerns about proposed Federal Government legislation that will lead to irrigation water buybacks, which could see 450 gigalitres of irrigation water removed from the Murray-Darling Basin. The fear is more water buybacks of this magnitude in the Goulburn and Murray regions will devastate those regional economies and see many walk away from the land. The Goulburn Valley accounts for 25 per cent of Victoria’s agriculture and we should protect it.
VACC entered a submission to the Productivity Commission in July to voice member concerns with the Murray-Darling Implementation Plan. Franchise dealers are often the biggest employers of apprentices and the greatest source of overall employment in regional Victoria, and are generous sponsors of community and sporting groups. With fewer people in those regional towns everything suffers.
Less water means fewer jobs, less people and a big impact on automotive retail trades and services.
Thanks to SPC and Shepparton Mayor Cr Shane Sali for inviting VACC to attend.
Read VACC's submission.