Gladys Berejiklian announces extra $500m for drought relief

THE NSW Government today announced an additional $500 million towards drought relief for the state, bringing the total package to $1 billion as farmers face one of the driest winters on record.

Clarissa Bye

@clarissa_bye

3 min read

July 30, 2018 - 11:12AM

NSW

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THE NSW Government today announced an additional $500 million of drought relief funding for struggling farmers, bringing the total rescue package to $1 billion.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said farmers faced one of the driest winters on record, failing crops, drastic water shortages and a diminished supply of fodder to sustain livestock.

The O'Brien family from Five Ways in the middle of NSW pictured on their drought ravaged farm. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Les Jones and daughter Lillie celebrate the arrival of bales of hay from Victoria. Need for Feed donated the hay and delivered it to save their flock. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

As part of its successful campaign to help struggling NSW farmers, The Sunday Telegraph two weeks ago told the story of Les Jones, who faced the heartbreaking prospect of shooting all 1200 of his sheep because he could no longer afford to feed them.

That day, Sunday Telegraph readers rallied behind the struggling sheep farming family to save their flock.

Today, the NSW Government doubled down on its relief funding.

One of the key aspects of the Emergency Relief Package is $190 million for the introduction of Drought Transport Subsidies.

HOW THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH HAS COVERED THE DROUGHT:

NSW DROUGHT CRISIS: HOW YOU CAN HELP

READERS DIG DEEP TO HELP FARMERS

FAMILY CRY THEMSELVES TO SLEEP AT NIGHT

FARMERS FORCED TO SHOOT STARVING FLOCK

The subsidies will cover up to 50 per cent of the full cost of transporting fodder, water for stock and livestock to pasture, slaughter or sale.

The NSW Government will offer a transport subsidy of up to $20,000 per farm business.

Ms Berejiklian said 99 per cent of the state was in drought.

The Berejiklian Government has announced an extra $500 million towards drought relief. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“To date we have already committed $584 million in drought support, most of which is focused on preparation for drought conditions,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“However, conditions are now so dire that further support is needed to address the more immediate needs for farmers and their communities until the drought breaks.”

Despite addressing the NSW Farmer’s conference last week, Ms Berejiklian held off the announcement until today.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian pledged an extra $500 million because conditions are now so dire”. Picture: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng

The government faces an important by-election in the regional seat of Wagga in coming months, following the resignation of disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Robert Brown MLC, who has been calling on the government to help farmers over the drought for more than a year, said the announcement “should have come much sooner”.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said farmers are facing one of the driest winters on record. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro take a tour of Rosewood farm in Dubbo. Picture: AAP Image/Bradley Guest

“The only reason we’re seeing a drought relief package is because the National Party is scared of losing rural seats to the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party,” he said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the drought had quickly worsened across the state because June and July were drier than expected and farmers were forced to source fodder from interstate as local supplies deteriorated.

“We said we would constantly reassess the conditions and relief measures, and the fact we’ve now increased our drought-relief package to over $1 billion is a reflection of how serious this drought is, and how much we value the health and wellbeing of our farming and regional communities,” Mr Barilaro said.

Farmer Les Jones on his property at Goolhi with the remaining sheep in his flock. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Importantly, we have backdated this relief measure to the start of the year when the drought intensified, especially in the Upper Hunter and Western NSW.

“This means eligible farmers who made the decision to de-stock earlier this year will still benefit from this new relief package.”

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