Prime Minister Invited to Visit Drought Impacted Southern Grampians
Published on 21 August 2025
Southern Grampians Shire Council has extended an invitation to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit the region to see first-hand ongoing drought conditions and the impact it is having on the local farming community.
Writing to the Prime Minister on Tuesday 18 August, Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the ongoing drought is having a significant impact upon the people of the region.
“Southern Grampians is in the heart of Australia’s largest agricultural production area and significantly contributes to our national economy,” said Cr Heslin.
"The current drought is without precedent and has impacted our area severely and is now being deeply felt across all sectors in our economy.”
“A visit from the Prime Minister will lift community spirits significantly but also allow the Prime Minister to speak directly with farmers and see first-hand the impact of the drought.”
The drought has devastated our farming community economically and had a significant impact on mental health. Southern Grampians farmers have been hand feeding stock since early 2024 at a significant cost, and to maintain stock levels have incurred debt levels that will cause financial hardship for some years.
Compounding the challenges is the regions rain fall to date in 2025 is not only substantially below an average year, but lower than levels recorded in 2024, indicating 2025 may be an even drier year.
“Council has continued to collaborate with regional farmers over the past few months hosting a 17 June Farmers Forum to develop a number of key priorities and actions for better support for those living on the land,” said Cr Heslin.
“These actions have included advocating against the introduction of the State Government’s new Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, to push for freight subsidies for hay and feed, to advocate for Government investment in developing water resilience, work regionally and through the Municipal Association of Victoria for greater impact, and advocate for land use policies that protect agricultural viability, and much more.”
Since the June meeting, Council has continued to advocate for better targeted drought support through:
- Working with other Victorian Council’s through the SouthWest Victorian Alliance
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Meeting with the Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive Agriculture Victoria to discuss current rain fall levels, forward outlook on farm priorities, kangaroos, the current economic environment post farm gate and ongoing support.
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Meeting with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in June in Canberra to advocate for the items raised at the Farmer Forum with a particular focus on flexibility in RIC loans.
- Meeting with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at Sheepvention to connect them with farmers and stakeholders who provided feedback.
- Continued push for the State Government to scrap the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF).
- Circulated drought support materials at Council services for residents to access.
- Lodged two motions for the MAV State Council meeting in October to call for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the equity, financial impact and proposed distribution of funds raised from the ESVF; and request that the State Government formally acknowledge the financial distress caused by the current drought with further support required.
Council will continue to advocate for better drought outcomes and support for Southern Grampians farmers and looks forward to hearing from Prime Minister Albanese.
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