Farmers crippled by drought demand major overhaul of rescue packages
The Sunday Telegraph today launches a campaign on behalf of desperate farmers pleading with the state and federal governments to overhaul drought rescue packages. Among those are the parents of Eve Holcombe, 3, who is the human face of the state’s invisible drought.
NSW
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- DROUGHT SPECIAL: Eyes on the sky: ‘There’s no relief in sight’
LITTLE Eve Holcombe is the human face of the worst drought gripping regional NSW in more than 110 years.
Her parents Peter and Kathleen Holcombe are desperately trying to hold on to their Walgett property and livelihoods as the dry spell has left their once lush paddocks bone-dry.
They are not alone, with The Sunday Telegraph today launching a campaign on behalf of desperate farmers who are demanding a major overhaul of drought rescue packages.
They want the state and federal governments to reinstate freight subsidies, increase welfare payments and bring back previously scrapped “drought declarations”.
While Sydney braced against torrential downpours last week, towns from Tamworth to Broken Hill experienced their 56th consecutive week of bone-dry conditions.
Official government estimates put 19.5 per cent of the state in drought, while other areas are on “drought watch” or “drought onset”.
But farmers say these classifications downplay their struggle, and the actual number of properties in drought is much higher.
The ripple effect has seen many families give up their livelihoods to escape rising debts. Farming towns have seen businesses lay off staff, graziers have sold their stock, and mental health lines are running hot.
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DROUGHT SPECIAL: EDITORIAL - THE HELP OUR FARMERS NEED
At the heart of the problem is a tangle of state and federal government policies introduced to help drought-proof farm operations. Farmers say these either haven’t worked or are merely a temporary solution.
They are also critical of a state and federal government decision to end the policy of “drought declaring” regions of the state, which used to trigger emergency cash and subsidies.
The policy was scrapped in 2013 in favour of a new system of interest-free loans that are supposed to pay for sheds, silos and water storage measures to insulate farmers in times of crisis.
Farmers can borrow up to $50,000 for seven years under the government scheme.
“Realistically, how many years of dry conditions can you prepare for?” NSW Farmers CEO Matt Brand, who supports the return of freight subsidies, said.
The National Farmers’ Federation, NSW Farmers and the Country Women’s Association are urging state and federal governments to return to their previous policy of drought declaring regions.
“It’s frustrating that even as conditions continue to worsen in many regions, there still fails to be even recognition in many quarters of the extent of the crisis,” state CWA president Annette Turner said.
The NSW government defended its policy, saying loans were more effective than freight subsidies, because freight subsidies distorted the market.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said 90 farmers had already applied for a combined $4,370,000 in loans and more than half of the applications had already been approved.
Wayne Newton, a fourth-generation farmer from Walgett, said the government’s interest-free loans were counter-productive and he’d much rather receive a freight subsidy.
“More debt is the last thing we need,” he said.
* Follow Jack Morphet on Twitter @JackMorphet or email jack.morphet@news.com.au
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