Liberals will set up weeds and pest animals taskforce

State Liberal Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish MP has announced that a Liberal Government will support local farmers and land managers in the fight against weeds and pest animals with a new taskforce that will properly enforce laws.

“Weeds and pests like rabbits can severely impact on farm productivity. It is vital that we do everything we can to support farmers, because profitable businesses are important to the health of our community,” Ms McLeish said.

An elected Liberal Government will provide an additional $6.88 million over four years in a new weeds and pest animal enforcement taskforce which will be established in Agriculture Victoria.

The taskforce will strengthen compliance with Victorian laws and will support landowners who already properly manage weeds and pest animals.

Ms McLeish said that supporting farmers and land managers isn’t a priority for the Andrews Labor Government.

“Weeds and pest animals are running rampant after Daniel Andrews cut the Department’s number of property inspections and has failed to enforce laws which are in place to protect private and public land.”

“It’s left landholders who do the right thing by controlling invasive species on their own properties negatively impacted by neighbours who flout laws which are not being properly enforced,” Ms McLeish said.

The impact of weeds is estimated to cost Australian farmers $4 billion through yield losses and product contamination across the nation each year.