PRESSURE is mounting on the Nationals to answer the calls of drought-stricken farmers for freight subsidies, with all sides of politics blasting the state government’s perceived inaction.
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The region’s two federal Nationals MPs, Barnaby Joyce and Mark Coulton, both took shots at their NSW colleagues.
Meanwhile, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party said the Nationals were only interested in kicking dust and photo opportunities, not listening to farmers.
With many farmers forced to cart in hay from as far as Adelaide, the cost of freight has become their biggest expense.
However, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said for every person calling for freight assistance, there was another person saying “we don’t need freight subsidies”.
“My heart is breaking for those farmers,” he said.
“Under the word drought, there is an octopus of needs if you like. One farm is not like the other farm. I’m doing everything I possibly can to make sure we can touch those people with those unique needs in each property.”
The Shooters Farmers and Fishers candidate for Tamworth, Jeff Bacon, said freight subsidies were one of the party’s biggest priorities. He called the government’s inaction “reprehensible”.
“I don’t understand how the Coalition can spend billions in Sydney on stadiums and relocating a museum, while families out here are being forced off the land,” Mr Bacon said.
“It’s unacceptable. The government can fix this.”
“We don’t want to see people selling the farm and leaving the bush because the government failed to look after them.”
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Piallamore gazier Barry Pratten said the reason farmers were calling for freight subsidies was because “it buys us more time”.
“It gives us more time to wait for it to rain,” he said.
Mr Pratten said it was frustrating to hear about billion-dollar projects being announced in Sydney.
“All those things make it very difficult for us to comprehend why we can’t get some help,” he said.
“I’m not saying those things shouldn’t be done, but they seem to have millions of dollars to spend at the moment.
“But no one seems to give a damn about the farmers.”
“Any other dry time we’ve had, and it has never been this bad, they’ve always come to the party with freight subsidies.
“It’s always been a big help to everybody. Why they’re not doing it this time, I really don’t know.”
Willow Tree farmer Therese McIntyre said other than making it rain, freight subsidies would be the best way the state government could help her and her fellow graziers.
“We are completely 100 per cent dependent on bought feed,” she said.
“This is not a normal drought, this is extreme.”
THE BIG DRY
Recently, New England MP Barnaby Joyce called on the NSW government to deliver freight subsidies.
“I would be happy to swap and have us pay for subsidies and the state pay for household assistance,” he said.
“I know who will be out of money first and it won’t be us.
“I believe it is our job as elected leaders to listen to what people want and to act on it as best we can.”
Parkes MP Mark Coulton, who’s electorate takes up half of NSW, echoed Mr Joyce’s calls.
“The federal government looks after the people, and the state government looks after the animals and the landscape, that’s how the division happens,” Mr Coulton said.
Mr Anderson pointed to the $500m available to farmers through the NSW government’s Drought Hub and urged those in need of assistance to reach out.
“What we are imploring people to do that need assistance is to reach out,” he said.
Last month, the secretary of the Tamworth Nationals, Liz Coxhead, called on the government to provide immediate relief to farmers instead of offering them loans.
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