The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Victoria’s regional small businesses impacted by the recent changes in global and local milk prices with a range of specialist business support services to run across the state over the next two months.
Small businesses in Victoria’s dairy regions – including South West Victoria, Northern Victoria and Gippsland – will be able to access expert mentoring and advice from experienced industry specialists to help them make informed business decisions during this financially stressful period.
The series of workshops will begin this week and will be run by Small Business Victoria in partnership with local councils to provide support to some the 130,000 regional small businesses facing hardship in the agricultural and retail sectors.
Victorian small businesses are vital for the economy generating more than 30 per cent of the state’s goods and services and providing almost 50 per cent of private sector jobs.
With 28 per cent of small businesses located in regional Victoria, they are the backbone of many local economies.
This small business support is an addition to a range of other initiatives delivered by the Government to date to help Victoria’s dairy farmers.
This includes a $11.4 million support package provided in partnership with Victoria’s dairy industry, as well as extending the Government’s Back to Work scheme to make members of a dairy farm household an eligible category of employee.
For more information and locations of the business support sessions, visit or call 13 22 55.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“From the family farm to local cafes or agricultural supply stores, there are a large number of Victorian small businesses that are heavily reliant on the dairy industry for their income and have been significantly worse off since the global fall in milk prices and decisions by some processors to cut the prices paid to their suppliers.”
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our rural and regional economies and we are ensuring that those businesses in Victoria’s dairy communities are getting the right support when they need it most.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“We’re standing with our dairy farming community who are doing it tough and putting farmers first but it is important that we support our businesses beyond the farm gate as well.”
“We know that this is a tough time for all Victorians affected by the dairy crisis and that’s why we’re delivering comprehensive support to the whole community.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020