Press Release

WA’s Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association has strongly backed assistance measures by the State Government  and will work with other rural groups in WA and across Australia to offer assistance to fire victims in Victoria.

PGA president Rob Gillam said the degree of human and economic suffering from raging fires in Victoria already represented one of Australia’s worst national disasters.

He said the impact on Australia’s national livestock industry, which is still recovering in many areas from chronic drought, would take some time to assess.

“Farming and regional communities will be needing specialised assistance in the form of  temporary housing, farm equipment including fencing, livestock fodder and agistment and many other  forms of aid.

“I will be talking to the Victorian Farmers Federation and with State rural organisations such as WA and NSW Farmers, the CWA, grain and rural product suppliers, local Government and young farmer groups to identify the areas of greatest need.

“There will be a need for rural people everywhere to coordinate and cooperate on providing the most effective forms of assistance to our fellow farmers and rural communities in Victoria,” Mr Gillam said.