Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor and Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) Chair, Councillor Shane Sali, has been appointed to the Victorian Government's Drought Response Taskforce.
In Summary
- Mayor Shane Sali, also Chair of Regional Cities Victoria (RCV), has been appointed to the Victorian Government's Drought Response Taskforce.
- The taskforce, chaired by Premier Jacinta Allan, will provide advice on drought support for farmers, local businesses and impacted communities.
- Cr Sali has called an extraordinary RCV Mayors meeting to discuss shared priorities ahead of the taskforce's first meeting next week.
- He will advocate for both immediate drought assistance and long-term government investment to strengthen regional and rural Victoria's economic opportunities.
The taskforce, to be chaired by the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, will bring together advocates from different communities and backgrounds to provide advice on further help for farmers, as well as broader support for impacted businesses and communities.
With the taskforce's first meeting to be held next week, Cr Sali has called an extraordinary meeting of RCV Mayors for Monday to discuss the priorities he will take to the inaugural meeting.
"We are all facing this challenge together, no regional city is immune from the consequences of drought," Cr Sali said.
"While we acknowledge today's announcements from the Victorian Government, including the $37.7 million statewide drought package and the ESVF reprieve for primary producers, we are acutely aware of the impacts from current policies for rural and regional Victoria.
"Right now, we need to support our farming communities in drought, but we also need to see a broader reset on government investment priorities to capitalise on the economic opportunities the regions offer."
"I look forward to continuing my conversations with farmers on the ground and hearing from them exactly what assistance they need to overcome the devastating conditions, which have left them with dry paddocks, dams and increasing production costs," Cr Sali said.
"I am pleased to have a seat at the table, allowing me to bring these firsthand experiences to the taskforce to help inform further regional support.
"Strengthening the Victorian economy depends on genuine consideration of the regional and rural context."
