Every single square kilometre of the Northern Tablelands is now drought affected, with most experiencing what is described by the NSW Department of Primary Industries as “intense drought”.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently called for freight subsidies to help farmers, but our readers feel that more should be done.
OPINIONS: HELPING FARMERS DEAL WITH DROUGHT
Government funded stock feed, a hold on all loan repayments and interest charges. Cash grants for basic needs such as groceries etc to be spent in country towns. We loose our primary producers we loose everything.
Tony O'Toole
How about no subsidies and just freight it for free? I mean, we gave $330 million in aid to Indonesia so they could buy $400 million in attack helicopters. Surely Julie Bishop can approve free freight for our farmers.
Bill Robb
I think assistance for drought-stricken farmers needs to be in the form of natural disaster relief. We send millions overseas to assist other countries who suffer from natural disasters. Fire, floods, severe rain events and storms are considered natural disasters but the opposite of that, namely a severe lack of rain leading to the drought conditions we are currently experiencing, is not put into the same category.
It's a disaster arising from the consequences of nature... Isn't it? So why can't the government bite the bullet and offer the same assistance to farmers?
Tanya Fogarty
Water is what they need. I know you can't make it rain but couldn't the desalination plants help provide water so there is no extra stress on cities.
Helen Brown
Freight subsidies, fuel rebates, fodder rebates, interest rebates, non asset / income tested unemployment benefits for full time Primary Producers, free counselling, etc. All available in drought-declared areas and until the same is over.
Simple application procedure for Primary Producers recognised as such by the Australian Tax Office. All funded from "Jumpsuit Julie" Bishop's Foreign Affairs checque book!
Bill Dempsey
And can still afford $100k in cultural art splashed around the place...?
Shae Stuart
READ MORE: It’s official! The drought is everywhere
Why doesn’t your federal MP Barnaby Joyce help you out. You helped him get elected again and he’s not short of money. We only hear him shouting about export live cattle which I hate so how will the cattle stay alive with no water or feed.
Theresa McArthur
The RAA 7-year loans are a joke and have been purposely written so no farmers are eligible. Currently there is no drought relief available to most farmers.
The Nationals have been silent and have obviously done nothing or enough to convince the libs to help. They are happy to support 2 billion dollar stadiums for the city but the country gets stiffed again.
We won’t forget this at the next election, Adam. Your posturing is pointless, we want results not empty talk. If the Nationals are powerless against the Libs, it is time to leave the coalition.
The state government has plenty of money to spend, they just don't value or care about regional Australians. I don't think the Nationals care about regional Australian anymore. Actions speak louder than words and we are hearing neither at present.
I, like most farmers, have spent the equivalent of 5 years income feeding stock. The last big drought took at least 5 years to pay back the debt incurred at that time. Regional towns will suffer for a long time because of this.
Farmers won't keep any monetary help, we spend it and it benefits everyone in the community. We need income support and proper loans for every farmer not just the 1 per cent that would be eligible.
The current media releases by the government about the support available are propaganda and fake news. 99 per cent of farmers are not eligible for any assistance because the government doesn't want to help, this is obvious to us but the city population may be fooled.
The truth is slowly being spread and I hope it results in many lost seats at the next election for this government.
