ALMOST 10,000 applications for drought assistance from the NSW government were submitted for its $30 million package, but some farmers have questions about the process and effectiveness of transport subsidies.
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The drought support package was introduced in November 2013 for Walgett, Bourke and Brewarrina council areas, and more areas were added until June 2014.
Kempsey, Lithgow and Kyogle were added in June and some farmers are complaining about the process.
Sue McGinn, “Coral Hill”, Belmore River, said she applied twice for transport assistance, but was told her second application was submitted too late, after the June 30 deadline.
“I understand the government can’t keep giving handouts (but) if I’d known I had to get it in earlier I would have,” she said.
Ms McGinn started the process on June 3, the day after the package was made available in Kempsey.
She referred to a document on the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) website which said claims for reimbursement of transport costs had to be submitted within three months of the Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson announcing the cessation for the scheme.
Ms McGinn said she thought that meant she had three months after the June 30 cut-off date.
However, Ms Hodgkinson said it referred to the old drought program and hadn’t been updated.
Ms McGinn said she knew many farmers had faced the same problem.
“It’s like they raised our hopes, then dashed our hopes,” she said.
Ms Hodgkinson said 143 applications had been received from Kem-psey, Kyogle and Lithgow for the transport assistance and water rebates.
More than 7300 applications were successful for transport and water assistance of the 10,000 across the State, and others were still being processed.
Ms Hodgkinson said more than $14 million of the original $30m drought package for NSW went to transport subsidies.
Last week federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce added $20m to NSW’s drought package, which centres on low interest loans.
The RAA in NSW administers the Farm Finance and Drought Conces-sional Loans Schemes.
“In NSW, loans of up to $650,000 are available also with a concessional rate of 4.5 per cent,” Mr Joyce said.
For details about drought support visit RAA or contact 1800 678 593.
Roderick Makim
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
