Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery, Barnaby Joyce, has heard first hand feedback from farmers about drought assistance, during a recent visit to drought-ravaged parts of the NSW Upper Hunter and Queensland.
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The Member for New England visited communities in Merriwa, Wallabadah, Bedourie, Longreach and St George “to offer local people, councils and businesses direct input into the Federal Government’s drought relief program”.
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“This is a natural disaster, there’s no doubt about it, and it must be treated as such,” Mr Joyce said.
“More and more people are coming to me saying this Farm Household Allowance needs changing; that the eligibility criteria requires urgent adjustment to reflect the unique financial arrangements of farming businesses, not the one-size-fits-all-approach currently in place.
“Strong councils build strong communities so we also need a bigger contribution for local councils from the Commonwealth through the Financial Assistance Grants, especially in rural and remote areas.
“We also need a new package for weeds, pests and wild dog fences which would have an immediate impact on drought communities, and returning money to the land through more jobs.
Mr Joyce also called for an increased spend on infrastructure, like roads in regional areas, so that we can “keep the cattle going out and the tourists coming in”.
“If people really want to help in a drought, the best thing they can do is come visit places like Tamworth, Bedourie and Longreach.
“Importantly, it’s about remembering that it will rain and things will turn around.
“We need to be doing all we can to keep family farms and their local communities going until then.”