From all indications, NSW farmers are enduring prolonged drought conditions and it’s critical that we recognise this – use the “d” word and start to have a genuine (and urgent) conversation about what is really needed to assist. Clearly, the indicators government have been using to determine drought conditions are not reflecting the situation on the ground. Rainfall deficiency maps are a blunt instrument, and take no account of heatwaves, dust storms, pest pressures and other extenuating circumstances.
It appears many people are finding themselves in a worse situation now than at any time during the Millennium Drought – back then we didn’t have as much trouble with low or non-existent water levels, and pest numbers (particularly kangaroos).
From many accounts in the far west of the state, this is also the first drought that many younger farmers or new entrants to the farming business have had to endure.
Other jurisdictions have emergency water infrastructure funds, which would be extremely well received by people in some parts of the state who have run out of water and are drilling bores. Farmers are also making calls for freight subsidies as opposed to freight loans.
The problem now is that people are cutting their losses and sending core breeding stock to slaughter as the weather outlook is not good and landholders are pretty much on their own in terms of dealing with the conditions.
Supporting landholders at this time in need should be viewed as a seed capital investment in the future viability of agriculture. The current assistance on offer does not do this and families are suffering financially physically and mentally. Communities are also suffering.
There is a lack of understanding and transparency from government about how they measure drought, and what they do when it is classified. We used to do it better than we do now, and other jurisdictions are doing better now also. Talking about drought is not talking the state down. It is acknowledging the real situation, which allows further conversation to happen around solutions. We need a broader set of drought support measures, we also need to review current application requirements and ensure there is adequate funding to provision these policy imperatives.
With this is mind, CWA of NSW has decided to convene a group of people together in Broken Hill in June to discuss solutions that we can all advocate for. The roundtable will represent an opportunity to get more specific on what it is we feel needs to be done. Those invited to the roundtable are a mix of representative organisations, policy experts, decision makers, landholders and authorities in their chosen field.
We don’t want another talk-fest or more community barbecues. We want to get real and specific about how we can help people now; and how drought policy can be structured in the future to avoid being so reactive all the time.
