AT a time when half-a-billion has been wiped from Victoria’s food and fibre exports, the State Government has cut more jobs in agricultural research - a total of 109 this year.
The job cuts are part of a proposed restructure of Agriculture Victoria (AV) under the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR) to deliver savings, including offering a voluntary Early Retirement Scheme.
AV is responsible for delivering services to Victoria’s $17.8 billion food and fibre industry and works in partnership with farmers, industries, communities and other government agencies to grow and secure agriculture in Victoria.
However, the Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance Report 2020-21 released March 2022, showed that food and fibre exports from Victoria were valued at $14 billion, a decrease of $476 million (down three per cent) on 2019-20.
At a time when the agriculture industry is recovering from impacts from the coronavirus pandemic and striving to bolster the Victorian economy, the job cuts are widening a gap in services for the rural and regional community.
The Spectator contacted the Hamilton AV site on Mt Napier Road by phone for comment, but the call went through to the department in Mildura, upon which the caller was advised that there was no one at Hamilton and to contact the media officer in Bendigo.
However, upon making that call, the media officer stated she was on leave and subsequently provided a number for someone in Wodonga or Warrnambool.
Agriculture shadow minister, Peter Walsh said the job cuts show the contempt the government has for the agricultural sector which sits at odds with the government’s ongoing promotion of agriculture as a major driver of Victoria’s economy.
“State Labor is no champion for our farmers or regional Victorians,” he said.
“It’s an act of political bastardry for State Labor to gut jobs supporting our $17.8 billion agriculture sector, while redirecting millions for spin doctors in the Premier’s own personal office.”
“Victorian food and fibre producers work hard to feed and clothe our nation, but they’re constantly paying more and getting less from high-taxing, city-centric Labor,” Mr Walsh said.
However, a Victorian Government spokesperson said that as part of the Victorian Budget 2021-22, all public service departments – including the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – were asked to implement a range of cost saving measures.
DJPR has more than 3600 people in its workforce. A proposed 203 positions will conclude, and 115 positions will be created as part of this workforce adjustment process - overall this means a proposed net reduction of 88 positions.
As part of this, it’s proposed 85 positions will conclude in AV and 32 new positions will be created.
The State Government said staff departures were being staggered to ensure that the department continues to deliver quality services across the state.
“We are investing more money than ever before in rural and regional Victoria – more than $30 billion since 2015, which is four times more than the previous Liberal National Government,” the spokesperson said.
“We will always support our farmers and communities and our high-quality on-ground services will continue.”
“Unlike the Liberal and Nationals who closed AgVic offices in Ararat, Birchip, Camperdown, Cobram, Kyneton, Ouyen and St Arnaud when last in government and slashed more than 500 jobs, there will be no closures of AgVic offices in regional Victoria.”
However, Agriculture shadow minister, Peter Walsh responded that the government’s cuts to agriculture jobs has exposed the hypocrisy, especially given the number of spin doctors within the Premier’s personal office that nearly outstrip resourcing for Victorian farmers.
The Premier’s Department of Premier and Cabinet Office swelled to 966 full time employees (FTE) by June 30 last year – a massive increase on the 370 FTE in 2013-14.
“Labor’s savage cuts to agriculture scientists and R&D jobs comes as Victorian farmers also suffer consequences of cuts to biosecurity and strategic efforts for export market diversification,” Mr Walsh said.
“While AgVic is forced to tighten the belt by cutting decades of scientific and operational expertise from its workforce, the Premier’s spending millions extra on spin doctors in his own personal office.
“If State Labor hadn’t wasted $24 billion in cost overruns on major projects in Melbourne, they wouldn’t need to cut AgVic research staff.”
Jobs in soil sciences, genomics, animal nutrition, and research on pest weeds and diseases have been targeted by Labor’s cuts.
