WESTERN NSW may be in line for significant drought assistance cuts during some of the driest times on record, as the Commonwealth reforms its Rural Financial Counselling Service.
The Department of Agriculture recently released new funding guidelines for the RFCS, which could more than halve the number of counsellors servicing western NSW.
Bourke RFCS executive office and financial counsellor Sharon Knight said the proposed funding for the Central NSW district (see map) was only enough to pay the way for 7.5 full time counsellors - down from the current 17 that currently service the district.
Under the proposed regime, $1.25 million including GST would be available to the Central West RFCS for financial year 2016-17.
"Bourke runs a counsellor at about $150,000 per year," Ms Knight said.
The Bourke division of the RFCS services some of the most remote and large scale producers in NSW.
Ms Knight said she chose to speak out about the funding proposal out of concern for local farm families.
"Our clients are the most important aspect of this process," she said.
"We just want to maintain the current level of service provision to primary producers in the area.
"Our clients are not silly, but they need assistance to understand their financial options among various government schemes."
The RFCS is a not for profit advisory service Australians, established in 1986, to provide financial advice and assistance and provides important guidance to producers who attempt to wade through the arcane application process for assistance loans.
It plays a significant role in the government's drought strategy, which includes infrastructure funding and low interest loans.
It is unclear how a reduction in officers would impact farmers' under the new preparedness policies.
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, this week visiting his electorate which covers Bourke RFCS' territory, wants to meet with Agri-culture Minister Barnaby Joyce.
"At first glance I have got some concerns about the proposal. When back in Canberra I will seek to meet with the Minster," he said.
"The Bourke service in particular is unique in this day and age - its board is run by volunteers."
Mr Joyce did not respond to The Land's request for comment before deadline.
The new funding guidelines come on the back of last year's national review of the RFCS, performed by National Rural Advisory Council.
It recommended the Common-wealth cut funding by 20 per cent and centralise the administrative structure.
In February, Mr Joyce said he had rejected the call for funding cuts, but moves are underway to centralise operations, reducing the number of service regions from 14 to 12 across the country, and from four to three in NSW.
Tenders are now open to service providers to apply for funding to operate service regions.
A spokesman for Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the department would not dictate the number of counsellors service providers employ.
"Future staffing numbers for all 12 regions will be determined in due course by the new service providers themselves in accordance with the level of demand from farmers," he said.
"It is expected the consolidation of RFCS regions will allow the funds to be better targeted at providing services direct to farmers and eligible rural businesses experiencing hardship."
RFCS executive Sharon Knight said her branch had "become part of the culture" at Bourke.
"There are limited services out our way. The RFCS has become a one stop contact point that is confidential and trusted."
n Also see opinion, p18
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
