A Liberal State Government would form a taskforce to tackle pests.
That’s the pledge from Liberal Eildon MP Cindy McLeish.
She said the team would “properly enforce laws” to support local farmers and land managers to fight weeds and pest animals.
“Weeds and pests like rabbits can severely impact on farm productivity,” Ms McLeish said.
“It is vital that we do everything we can to support farmers, because profitable businesses are important to the health of our community.”
An elected Liberal Government would provide $6.88 million over four years in a new weeds and pest animal enforcement taskforce which would be established in Agriculture Victoria.
Ms McLeish said the Labor State Government had cut property inspections and failed to enforce laws 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,” she said.
Weeds are estimated to cost Australian farmers $4 billion each year through yield losses and product contamination.
