Drought assistance has been extended to farmers in Baw Baw and Cardinia Shires - but the Victoria Farmers' Federation said it failed to deliver the support farmers needed.
The Allan Labor Government last week announced an expanded drought support package and extended support to an additional 13 Local Government Areas including Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Cardinia Shires.
The initiatives announced by Agriculture Minister Ros Spence included:
Support for small businesses through the appointment of a small business financial counsellor;
A new state wide program to help communities come together and support farmers under stress and struggling with mental health;
Investing $900,000 with the National Centre for Farmer Health to deliver ongoing services and resources to the farming community; and,
Agriculture Victoria's farm business technical and decision-making support will be made available state wide, supporting farmers to manage the impacts of increasingly difficult seasonal conditions.
The package takes the government's direct drought support to $29.4 million, on top of the $10.2 million investment through the Future Drought Fund program, and $4.1 million for the Rural Financial Counselling Service.
Ms Spence said the government was continuing to back farmers with the support they needed to tackle the challenging dry conditions across the state.
"We've already supported more than 1500 primary producers with on-farm infrastructure and now we're expanding that support as drought conditions persist across south west Victoria and are now impacting south Gippsland and other areas of the state," she said.
But VFF president Brad Hosking said the new drought measures did not go far enough to address the mounting pressure facing farmers and rural communities.
Mr Hosking said while any support was appreciated, the limited scale of the package fell well short of what was required, especially when compared with more substantial efforts in other states such as South Australia.
"Farmers are not asking for handouts. They are asking for meaningful recognition of the strain this drought is putting on their livelihoods, their families and their mental health," Mr Hosking said.
The VFF has put forward a number of constructive suggestions to Agriculture Victoria, but Mr Hosking cautioned against announcing piecemeal initiatives without fully grasping the broader needs of the farming sector.
"Of course, financial support is vital, but it is also about showing that people in the city understand and care about what is happening in the bush," he said.
"Mental health is a huge concern. When farmers feel isolated, unsupported and forgotten, the consequences can be devastating for individuals and entire communities."
The Nationals' Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath also labelled the government's drought support package "inadequate and insulting."
"Labor has categorically failed to deliver needed assistance for feed, fodder, and water to help keep livestock alive and reduce destocking.
"It will do little for our struggling primary producers as drought like conditions prevail," Ms Bath said.
Armed robbery
in park
A man was robbed at knifepoint while exercising in a Warragul park last Tuesday night.
The 22-year-old man told police he was exercising in Eastern Park Reserve, off Stoffers St, at about 10pm when the incident occurred.
He reportedly heard people fighting and called 000. Shortly after, he said a group of four to six young people - both boys and girls - approached him. One produced a knife and demanded his backpack and shoes, in which he was carrying $890.
Police said the man was physically assaulted and sustained minor face injuries.
One of his shoes was found in a vacant block in nearby Normanby St. The other shoe was located in a neighbouring street.
Baw Baw Crime Investigation Unit detectives have urged anyone with information or CCTV to contact Warragul Police on 5622 7111.