The closure of the factory is a devastating loss, according to state member Kim O’Keeffe.
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Megan Fisher
Parliamentarians across northern Victoria have expressed concern over the announcement that the Bega factory in Strathmerton will close.
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In a statement to employees and the Australian Stock Exchange on Tuesday, May 6, the Bega Group said it would progressively close its Strathmerton factory by mid-2026.
With over 300 employees affected by the closure, the announcement has been met with concern from elected representatives across the Gouburn Valley.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said in a statement the decision to close the factory was devastating news for the 300 workers, their families, suppliers, contractors and the broader community across the region.
“This is a huge loss of an iconic long-term local business and major employer of the town and region, and a clear example of the financial pressure faced by businesses in Victoria,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“I have spoken with Bega’s executive general manager of retail sales, marketing and partnerships and am also working closely with Moira Shire to determine the impact this will have in both the immediate and long-term future.
“While the company is planning a phased closure to be completed by mid-2026, we need to understand what this will mean for the affected workers, specifically, what opportunities exist for redeployment or transition to other industries, and what support will be required.
“I will continue to liaise with all stakeholders to ensure that support is provided for workers and those significantly impacted. The state and federal governments must also provide support.”
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell echoed the sentiment, calling the announcement of the closure a shock to the community.
“It is always disappointing when companies are forced to move operations away from regional Victoria, and my first thoughts are with the workers and their families affected by this devastating decision,” Ms Lovell said in a statement.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell raised her concerns over the announcement.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
“My immediate priority is ensuring Bega redeploys as many staff as possible to the Tatura site and works with other local manufacturers to place affected workers into new jobs. The state and federal governments must also step up and provide support and retraining assistance for workers needing to transition to other industries.
“Local businesses supplying goods and services to the Strathmerton plant will also face heavy impacts, with economic ripples felt across the entire region.
“Recent analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows 129,000 Victorian businesses closed in 2024 – over 350 a day – while more than 3000 moved interstate. This mass exodus reflects the rising cost of doing business in Victoria, fuelled by the Allan Labor Government’s regime of punitive taxes and suffocating regulations.”
State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy joined the chorus, saying he expected to field calls from many concerned constituents in the coming weeks.
“Strathmerton will be hit particularly hard, being the small community that it is,” he said.
“But Numurkah and Cobram will also be impacted because those incomes get spent in supermarkets and shops in Numurkah and Cobram, and that’s just more customers who won’t be coming through their doors.
“We certainly want to see the employees all get paid what they deserve, but also make sure we can try to get any government assistance.
“We’ll certainly be talking to the government about what we can replace Bega with.”
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