Victoria is the home of the Australian dairy industry, accounting for 70 per cent of the nation’s dairy farms and 80 per cent of Australia’s dairy exports.
It includes;
- $1.8 million in dairy development grants to assist farmers with their on-farm business.
- $1.4 million for dairy farming families to receive 15 hours of free kindergarten in the year before school.
- $1.5 million for camps, sports and excursions so no child misses out.
- $750,000 for ‘Rural Skills Connect’ employment program for farmers.
- $600,000 for targeted dairy technical support.
- $320,000 to extend Rural Financial Counselling services to small businesses.
- $340,000 for Rural Financial Counselling Services to help farming businesses.
- Support for retraining through the TAFE system.
In late May, the state announced an $11.4 million joint government and industry support package but held $4.5 million back, saying it would take time to decide on the best measures of support.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the new announcement was the government coming good on its promise of those funds with a little bit more.
«We announced the most urgent things first but we said at the time we wanted to go and talk to people about what they needed.
«We are now in a position to outline those further initiatives.»
Source: ABC
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-03/vic-dairy-package/7684448