Farmer fined $398 for helping in drought—now he's fighting back
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Farming in regional Australia often comes with unique challenges—but sometimes, it's not just the weather working against you.
A recent incident involving a long-time Victorian farmer has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about how rules are enforced on rural roads.
What unfolded next has left many in the agricultural community stunned.
Farmers across the country were left fuming after a Victorian man copped a fine simply for helping his neighbour feed livestock during a severe dry spell.
Graham Thomson, a hay contractor from Condah in southwest Victoria, had been moving two bales of hay on his tractor when flashing lights stopped him in his tracks.
The incident occurred on the Henty Highway, just 600 metres from where he began, and sparked a wave of outrage—both online and within the farming community.
Thomson, who had been in the industry for decades, said he checked carefully for other vehicles before making the short journey across the public road. But what followed caught him off guard.
‘I’m meant to have a load binder over them. I’ve been farming for about 50 years and I didn’t know that,’ he said. According to Thomson, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) officer who pulled him over informed him that carrying items like hay on a tractor’s front-end loader across a public road was not permitted.
‘I didn’t say anything, but one minute he says I can’t carry anything on the road and then he books me for carrying something on it that’s not restrained. So that didn’t make sense to me.’
The $398 fine was issued for failing to restrain the load—a penalty Thomson claimed was worth more than the hay itself.
Adding to the sting of the situation, the fine was handed out on the same day that a local mental health event for farmers took place at the Condah Hotel. The timing struck a nerve with many.
Fellow farmer Andy Satchell took to social media to share his frustration, uploading a video showing a green tractor carrying a large bale of hay on its forks. While the footage did not capture the moment of the interception, it illustrated how common such practices are in rural areas.
Source: Facebook/Andy Satchell
‘To say Thommo was upset would be an understatement,’ Satchell wrote. ‘Surely farmers have a right to keep their livestock fed.’
The video quickly went viral, with thousands of Aussies weighing in on what many called a ‘ridiculous’ fine. For farmers like Thomson, the incident wasn’t just frustrating—it exposed a deeper disconnect between regulations and everyday realities on the land.
‘Every farmer is breaking the law as soon as they put a round roll or a square bale on those forks to go across a road,’ he said.
A GoFundMe was launched to help Thomson challenge the penalty in court. According to the fundraiser, the veteran farmer believed that supporting a neighbour in need should not result in punishment. It also aimed to ensure the voices of rural Australians were heard.
‘Thommo is choosing to contest the fine in court because he believes that, after 60+ years in the industry, helping a neighbour feed their livestock shouldn’t be penalised,’ the page stated.
Thomson also requested that any excess funds be donated to the National Centre for Farmer Health, citing the increasing strain on farmers’ mental wellbeing.
‘Due to farmers experiencing environmental factors, such as drought and floods, I’d like any excess funds to go to farmer mental health, as we need to keep the food chain going.’
Despite the backlash, the NHVR stood by its decision.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: ‘On 8 June, SCOs intercepted a tractor carrying two double stacked large hay bales on the Henty Highway in Condah, with one of the bales not restrained. The SCOs applied both an engagement and enforcement method, by providing education to the driver on his registration conditions in regard to carrying a load on the highway, and the driver was also issued a minor load restraint infringement for the unrestrained bale.’
The NHVR reiterated its commitment to safety, explaining that education comes first—but action would be taken when required.
‘Though the NHVR is committed to its “inform and educate” approach, road safety is always the highest priority and enforcement action may be taken when necessary to help ensure all road users, including both the heavy vehicle driver and other motorists, make it to their destination safely.’
Thomson was issued the minimum fine under Victoria’s Heavy Vehicle National Law for breaching mass, dimension or loading regulations. The maximum penalty could have reached a staggering $13,310.
For now, the farmer is standing firm—and he’s not the only one.
It’s not just red tape frustrating farmers—nature’s been relentless too.
For a look at how tough things have become across southern Australia, especially for those still working the land, this one’s worth a watch.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
With decades of farming experience under his belt, should Graham have been fined for doing what many see as a simple act of neighbourly help? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
When life takes an unexpected turn, every bit of support counts.
Much like Graham Thomson’s situation, another recent story saw a grandmother facing major life changes—and a GoFundMe campaign was set up to help her through it.
Both stories highlight how powerful community backing can be during life’s tougher moments.
Read more: This grandmother thought it was just another birthday, but she's about to face massive change
A recent incident involving a long-time Victorian farmer has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about how rules are enforced on rural roads.
What unfolded next has left many in the agricultural community stunned.
Farmers across the country were left fuming after a Victorian man copped a fine simply for helping his neighbour feed livestock during a severe dry spell.
Graham Thomson, a hay contractor from Condah in southwest Victoria, had been moving two bales of hay on his tractor when flashing lights stopped him in his tracks.
The incident occurred on the Henty Highway, just 600 metres from where he began, and sparked a wave of outrage—both online and within the farming community.
Farmer fined while helping drought-stricken neighbour. Image source: GoFundMe/Tim Ford
Thomson, who had been in the industry for decades, said he checked carefully for other vehicles before making the short journey across the public road. But what followed caught him off guard.
‘I’m meant to have a load binder over them. I’ve been farming for about 50 years and I didn’t know that,’ he said. According to Thomson, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) officer who pulled him over informed him that carrying items like hay on a tractor’s front-end loader across a public road was not permitted.
‘I didn’t say anything, but one minute he says I can’t carry anything on the road and then he books me for carrying something on it that’s not restrained. So that didn’t make sense to me.’
The $398 fine was issued for failing to restrain the load—a penalty Thomson claimed was worth more than the hay itself.
Adding to the sting of the situation, the fine was handed out on the same day that a local mental health event for farmers took place at the Condah Hotel. The timing struck a nerve with many.
Fellow farmer Andy Satchell took to social media to share his frustration, uploading a video showing a green tractor carrying a large bale of hay on its forks. While the footage did not capture the moment of the interception, it illustrated how common such practices are in rural areas.
Source: Facebook/Andy Satchell
‘To say Thommo was upset would be an understatement,’ Satchell wrote. ‘Surely farmers have a right to keep their livestock fed.’
The video quickly went viral, with thousands of Aussies weighing in on what many called a ‘ridiculous’ fine. For farmers like Thomson, the incident wasn’t just frustrating—it exposed a deeper disconnect between regulations and everyday realities on the land.
‘Every farmer is breaking the law as soon as they put a round roll or a square bale on those forks to go across a road,’ he said.
A GoFundMe was launched to help Thomson challenge the penalty in court. According to the fundraiser, the veteran farmer believed that supporting a neighbour in need should not result in punishment. It also aimed to ensure the voices of rural Australians were heard.
‘Thommo is choosing to contest the fine in court because he believes that, after 60+ years in the industry, helping a neighbour feed their livestock shouldn’t be penalised,’ the page stated.
Thomson also requested that any excess funds be donated to the National Centre for Farmer Health, citing the increasing strain on farmers’ mental wellbeing.
‘Due to farmers experiencing environmental factors, such as drought and floods, I’d like any excess funds to go to farmer mental health, as we need to keep the food chain going.’
Despite the backlash, the NHVR stood by its decision.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: ‘On 8 June, SCOs intercepted a tractor carrying two double stacked large hay bales on the Henty Highway in Condah, with one of the bales not restrained. The SCOs applied both an engagement and enforcement method, by providing education to the driver on his registration conditions in regard to carrying a load on the highway, and the driver was also issued a minor load restraint infringement for the unrestrained bale.’
The NHVR reiterated its commitment to safety, explaining that education comes first—but action would be taken when required.
‘Though the NHVR is committed to its “inform and educate” approach, road safety is always the highest priority and enforcement action may be taken when necessary to help ensure all road users, including both the heavy vehicle driver and other motorists, make it to their destination safely.’
Thomson was issued the minimum fine under Victoria’s Heavy Vehicle National Law for breaching mass, dimension or loading regulations. The maximum penalty could have reached a staggering $13,310.
For now, the farmer is standing firm—and he’s not the only one.
It’s not just red tape frustrating farmers—nature’s been relentless too.
For a look at how tough things have become across southern Australia, especially for those still working the land, this one’s worth a watch.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
With decades of farming experience under his belt, should Graham have been fined for doing what many see as a simple act of neighbourly help? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
When life takes an unexpected turn, every bit of support counts.
Much like Graham Thomson’s situation, another recent story saw a grandmother facing major life changes—and a GoFundMe campaign was set up to help her through it.
Both stories highlight how powerful community backing can be during life’s tougher moments.
Read more: This grandmother thought it was just another birthday, but she's about to face massive change
