Northern Victoria Region
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:02): (9) My question is for the Minister for Agriculture. I know the minister is aware of the two major hailstorms that occurred across the Goulburn and Murray valleys that have severely impacted our local horticultural and agricultural industry. The hailstorm on 22 December destroyed approximately a thousand hectares of stone fruit, tomato and other crops in an area stretching from Tatura to Bunbartha only days before harvest. Fruit Growers Victoria estimate that the damage will see growers lose approximately $50 million from the farm gate, and many have lost more than 80 per cent of their crops. To assist affected growers, Fruit Growers Victoria has recommended that the state and federal governments increase the threshold of the primary producer concessional loan to $1 million. Will the minister work with the federal government to increase the primary producer concessional loan threshold from $250,000 to $1 million to help growers impacted by the recent hailstorms in the Goulburn and Murray valleys?