Regional recruiters rewarded for sending workers to the bush
The Federal Government’s total drought package has been brought to $6 billion following several drought and flood assistance announcements in the Federal Budget. It follows a backlash from rural voters in the NSW election.
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Farmers affected by drought and floods will be given a helping hand and regional recruiters will be rewarded for sending jobseekers to the bush.
Following a backlash from rural voters in the New South Wales election, the Coalition is under renewed pressure to win back support in regional communities, particularly in the marginal seats of Page, Cowper and Gilmore.
In addition to the billions of dollars in drought relief already provided to struggling farmers, the Morrison Government will overhaul its Farm Household Allowance package so that farmers can sell some livestock without it affecting their payments. An extra $15 million will also be provided to 15 drought-affected councils across Australia to improve infrastructure and support drought projects.
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An extra $5 million will flow to the Country Women’s Association and an extra $2.5 million will be provided for mental health services in drought-affected communities.
In an effort to futureproof regional Australia, $4.2 million will be spent improving drought maps which is in addition to the $3.9 billion Future Drought Fund which promises to fund drought-resilience projects to protect farming communities.
The extra drought initiatives take the Federal Government’s total drought package to more than $6 billion.
Flood-affected farmers won’t miss out with $300 million in government grants to replant crops, buy stock and fix fences.
The Morrison Government will also reward regional recruiters who find farm work for welfare recipients with $50 bonuses, up from $45. If the worker stays in the job for one month the recruiter will receive $500, rising to $1250 if the farmhand stays in the role for six months.
Farmers will be also given easier access to lucrative trade markets as part of a $29 million package which will reduce red tape and help small farmers sell access expanding markets.
Agriculture minister David Littleproud said the investment will ensure Australian farmers can send food and fibre products to as many markets as possible. “Free trade deals decide the tariffs but we need to give our farmers as many markets as possible to send it to,” he said.
An extra $160 million will be invested in 364 new phone towers across regional Australia to improve mobile coverage in rural areas with internet services set to receive a $60 million boost. Regional communities will also benefit from a $200 million extension of the Building Better Regions Fund which allows councils and not-for-profit organisations to bid for cash from Canberra.
The Morrison Government will also extend a program that will give all 151 lower house MPs $150,000 a year to fund small community projects in their electorates.
Cash flow is as dry as the land
Jess and Rob Taylor are constantly trying to make every dollar stretch a little further to cover the crippling costs of feeding their dwindling stock in the midst of the worst drought they’ve ever experienced.
The family lives on a drought-ravaged sheep and cattle farm near Bugaldie in northwest NSW.
After more than two years without substantial rain the Taylors were forced to sell off about half their stock because they could no longer afford to buy the feed required.
“We’ve probably sold over 100 cows and then same as the sheep I think we might have 600 left,” Ms Taylor said.
The mother-of-four said she looked into applying for a farming household allowance from the federal government but found the process too complicated.
“The rebates on offer are kind of pointless,’’ she said.
“You have to put your money up first to then be reimbursed, but that is money you don’t really have.”
— Clare Armstrong
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