Council representatives from Campaspe, Swan Hill, Loddon, Moira and Mildura joined forces to voice the concerns of their communities to Senator Bridget McKenzie, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Nationals candidate for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad.
At the top of the agenda was foot and mouth disease (FMD), followed closely by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP), skill shortages within regional workforces and the impending budget.
Senator McKenzie, who is the Infrastructure, Regional Development and Transport Shadow Minister, said the purpose of the visit was to listen to the concerns of the riverside regions and work closely with them to achieve greater outcomes.
She said FMD was a priority item on the agenda.
“Both the dairy industry and the beef industry are heavily concerned about FMD, as are the councillors here today,” Senator McKenzie said.
“We know that this region will be significantly impacted if this disease makes its way on-shore and into these herds, particularly as this region is the heart of food production in Victoria.”
Senator McKenzie said the government’s response to the FMD outbreak had been too slow and, as a result, she would call on the Agriculture Minister “to do more” to prevent the spread.
“It’s not good enough,” she said.
“Every returning traveller needs to not just be waived through, as they have been, but actually checked. We want the agricultural minister to investigate the impact of closing the borders and we want a whole raft of stricter security measures to be put in place.”
Ms Broad echoed Senator McKenzie’s sentiments, saying she wanted to see the Federal Government take some preventative action.
“I was speaking to a lady yesterday who has taken 35 years to develop her herd. She has invested so much over such a long period of time and the threat of seeing that wiped out in an instant is something of great concern to our region,” she said.
The MDBP also featured prominently on the agenda during the discussions.
Mr Birrell said the Victorian Murray River Group of Councils would submit a request for a meeting with Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek.
“We’re inviting her here so she can listen to all the community members and stakeholders and get a better understanding of the kind of socio-economic damage this will generate and the kind of harm this will cause to our river system, as a result of removing another 450 gigalitres,” Mr Birrell said.
Senator McKenzie said now was the time for Ms Plibersek to show up for the people “who often feel forgotten about by ministers in Canberra”.
“Ms Plibersek made the offer to say that she’s here to listen and now is the time to prove it,” she said.
Skill shortages within regional workforces and the budget were also flagged as items of concern at the meeting, with many council members hoping for positive regional-centric outcomes at the upcoming skill summit and budget.
Cr Rob Amos represented Campaspe Shire as Mayor Chrissy Weller couldn’t attend.
He said the meeting was an opportunity for councils on the Murray to present issues in their own community’s language.
“There are a lot of important issues that we need to advocate for as councillors that are really important to our local residents,” Cr Amos said.