Councils call for review of drought-funding eligibility criteria
Published on 18 July 2025
Northern Grampians Shire and Horsham Rural City councils are calling on the State Government to thoroughly review its eligibility criteria for its latest round of drought funding, which excludes the municipalities’ farmers despite some of the most challenging conditions in recent memory.
Earlier this month, the government announced an additional $75 million in drought support for farmers in Victoria’s south-west, including $35.8 million for Primary Producer Support Payments to provide eligible farmers with the equivalent of a 40 per cent reduction on their property rates.
The payments will provide much-needed cash-flow relief for farmers in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs), including Ararat, Southern Grampians and southern parts of West Wimmera, but not Northern Grampians or Horsham Rural City.
Northern Grampians Shire mayor Karen Hyslop said both councils were concerned and disappointed about the inequitable application of drought grants and assistance packages, including Farm Drought Support Grants (formerly On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants).
“The drought support grants provide farmers in our shire, and Horsham Rural City, with grants of up to $5000, while farmers in neighbouring LGAs may access up to $10,000,” she said.
“Now the additional $75 million drought assistance package, which includes rate rebates, and food and grocery support among other relief, is not available to us at all.
“Given we are both in LGA areas currently experiencing dry conditions with the consistent severity of drought conditions across the region, we are advocating for equitable access to financial support for all affected farming communities.”
Cr Hyslop and Horsham Rural City mayor Ian Ross have written letters to Premier Jacinta Allan and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence respectively, advocating for their municipalities to be made eligible for further drought relief.
Cr Ross said livestock maintenance costs had soared, while the depletion of pasture and seed banks had made it nearly impossible for farmers to sustain their operations without external support.
"Our farmers are battling conditions far worse than we’ve seen in recent history,” he said.
"With the high cost of maintaining livestock and the long-term implications for local farming families, we are deeply disappointed by the exclusion of our southern regions from the Primary Producers Support Payments.
“To have these areas excluded from the new support measures is a blow to our agricultural community, and council is calling for a review to address this oversight.
“These farmers need assistance now more than ever."
Cr Ross said he believed the exclusion of Horsham municipality’s southern and western areas from the latest drought support measures not only contradicted previous decisions but also undermined the hard work and resilience of local farmers.
"The contradiction between being included in earlier drought relief programs and then being excluded from the latest support payments is creating unnecessary confusion,” he said.
“We are calling on the government to ensure that all drought-affected farmers, regardless of location, receive the support they need.”
The latest drought support measures – which along with the Primary Producer Support Payments include $2 million for Country Women’s Association to deliver household payments of $1000 in eligible LGAs; $5.9-million to continue technical decision-making support, mental health services, farm-debt mediation and engagement activities for another 12 months; a $6.3 million fee-and-duty-relief package; waiving indexation on biosecurity fees; and $15 million towards extending the East Grampians Rural Pipeline, also known as the Mininera Rural Pipeline – stem from the government’s new drought response taskforce.
Taskforce members include government ministers and representatives from local government, banks and the Victorian Farmers Federation.
Regional Cities Victoria and Rural Councils Victoria have also been advocating heavily on behalf of local councils, including Horsham Rural City and Northern Grampians Shire, and are represented on the taskforce.
In her letter to the premier, Cr Hyslop extended her appreciation and support for the taskforce, which she said she believed had strong potential to deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.
“However, we are concerned by the absence of direct representation from the Wimmera region on the taskforce and the absence of communication to date regarding its activities, plans and opportunities for engagement,” she said.
“Regular updates, clear lines of communication and access to any emerging support programs would greatly assist council in coordinating local efforts and ensuring our communities are informed and connected to the process.”
Cr Hyslop said she would welcome an opportunity to work with the taskforce and extended an invitation to host a taskforce meeting in Northern Grampians Shire.
“Here, we could facilitate engagement with local farmers, enabling taskforce members to hear firsthand the concerns of our agricultural community and better understand how support packages can meet local needs,” she said.
“As our areas have been experiencing the effects of drought for quite some time, our region is experiencing significant economic, social and mental health pressures.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting farming communities and believe the taskforce has strong potential to deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.”