AS the dams dry up and the mercury rises, tempers are running hot in the NSW Parliament over the degree of support available to struggling producers, particularly in the State's hard-hit North West.
Labor says NSW drought support has dried up and farmers are facing "beyond desperate" situations, but Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson says the Liberal-Nationals government is "committed to a system" of ongoing support for drought-affected producers.
Country Labor spokesman Steve Whan said the government's lack of recent drought support was "disgusting", considering it was three months since Premier Mike Baird had last visited drought-stricken areas of the State.
“He went back to the beaches of Manly and immediately forgot the severe hardship ...”
“Farmers in areas like North Walgett Shire have not had decent rain in three years - and they are getting no drought help from the Liberal government,” Mr Whan said.
“Three months ago, Premier Baird visited drought-affected farmers and promised to take another look at drought support – particularly stock and fodder transport subsidies.
“Unfortunately it seems he went back to the beaches of Manly and immediately forgot the severe hardship the people who are trying to grow our food and fibre in the State’s North West are facing."
Mr Whan said he had spoken with farmers who had done "everything right" in terms of drought preparation, but after a prolonged dry period were now facing a situation that was "beyond desperate".
Ms Hodgkinson challenged Labor to release its own drought support policy with full costings, rather than simply attack a government which had already allocated $50 million in temporary emergency assistance measures.
“NSW Labor is now proposing to turn back the clock ...”
Ms Hodgkinson said the government was committed to a system of drought support which helped businesses become more resilient and better prepared for future droughts.
“I know how tough it is in the North West – I have visited several times since November last year and met with many farmers and community leaders, some of whom are enduring multiple years of drought without respite,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
Following the end of the temporary emergency assistance on July 1, the government continued to provide a range of important assistance measures to support our farmers through drought, she said.
“This includes the Farm Innovation Fund – which provides farmers with access to loans of up to $250,000 at 2.5 per cent interest for projects that will help them to cope with drought and better prepare for future droughts.
“This program has been incredibly popular – since it was announced last October there have been more than 171 loans approved, with an average loan size and approval rate of $124,800 and 92pc respectively.
“The great thing about this scheme is that – unlike transport subsidies – it is not tied to a ‘lines on maps’ approach, rather, it is available to viable farmers across the whole State."
Ms Hodgkinson also said the new system of drought support is "still a work in progress", and the government would continue to investigate ways of improving both State and Commonwealth programs.
“The millennium drought saw $169 million of taxpayer funds poured into transport and fodder subsidies, but only 25pc of eligible landholders received these handouts," she said today.
Reviews have shown some subsidies led to "perverse outcomes", such as discouraging preparedness, delaying on-farm decision making and leading to undesirable animal and land management.
“NSW Labor is now proposing to turn back the clock, despite previously acknowledging through its actions that these are ineffective forms of support and that taxpayer funds are better invested in other support programs.”
- with FarmOnline
Roderick Makim
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
