Federal Ag Minister visits Vic Hub

Julie Collins MP meets our SW Node

Hon. Julie Collins MP, the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Minister for Small Business; and Federal Member for Franklin visited the Vic Hub’s South-West Node yesterday.

Along with GRDC MD Nigel Hart, Ms Collins visited the Southern Farming Systems Inverleigh Trial Site.

She said, “You can see the passion the staff at Australia’s Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs have for their job.

“They play a crucial role in helping our farmers prepare for dry conditions, something I got to see first-hand … at the test site of the Victorian Drought Hub’s [SW Node] Southern Farming Systems in Inverleigh.”

Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub Director Dr Sara Hely, said, “It was fantastic to see the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at one of our nodes. This allowed Julie Collins to see and understand what we’re doing on the ground.

“Since the visit, the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants have been opened. This Victorian program supports our efforts in the drought-resilience space, where there can sometimes be a grey line between response and preparedness.”