Regional farming communities across Victoria are bracing for significant impacts as public sector job cuts threaten the vital support services that underpin the state’s agriculture industry.
The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has expressed her deep concerns at the proposed job cuts within Agriculture Victoria and related government departments, warning that the move could undermine the state’s ability to safeguard its world-class $20 billion agricultural industry.
“Victoria’s agriculture sector underpins regional economies and communities, employing tens of thousands of people and supporting food security across the country.
“The Allan Labor Government needs to reconsider any reductions that would weaken frontline services and place the industry at greater risk”, Ms O’Keeffe said.
The Allan Labor Government has already cut $77.6 million from agriculture funding in the recent 2025/26 Victorian State Budget, with regional programs such as the Goulburn Murray Valley Area-Wide Management Fruit Fly Program that targets the Queensland Fruit Fly are under significant financial strain, imposing a significant risk.
“Agriculture Victoria has already lost over 190 positions that were removed over the last two years as part of broader cuts to regional services and operations. We are now looking at a further estimated 350 public sector jobs being cut.
“The government has also cut a further $52 million from the regional development budget. This deeply undermines the very programs that help towns grow, attract investment, and retain young people in local jobs.
“At a time when costing of living pressures and workforce shortages are already bitting, pulling back government support and budget cuts will entrench disadvantage in regional Victoria for many years to come.
“These reductions, combined with previously reported job losses and declining service capacity in areas including bushfire response and biosecurity, risk compounding pressures on agriculture’s resilience and the infrastructure that supports regional communities.
“These cuts are another example of the Allan Labor Government’s financial mismanagement, with Victoria’s agricultural industry paying the price.”
