John Barilaro: All of us must sacrifice to get through drought

We could provide drought relief by temporarily cutting some programs and infrastructure projects in the city, writes John Barilaro.

• Only 14% of $7b drought package going to immediate relief
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Kilometre after kilometre of dusty roads, cloaked by a dry barren landscape has become the norm in recent months, as I spend almost every daylight hour away from parliament visiting all corners of our drought and fire ravaged regions.

Drought, fire and the lack of water is testing our resilience, and I’m not sure what’s left in the tank.

There is anxiety, fear, but mostly a level of despair, but it’s beyond one’s own plight, it’s the future of regional and rural NSW.

This drought has moved beyond the farm gate. It’s now threatening the very existence of our communities. Like a cancer, it doesn’t discriminate against any one, any region, any industry and it will leave a deep lasting scar.

Richard and Janie Tink with kids Darcy 8 and Nelly 6 pictured on their drought-affected farm outside of Narromine in the central west of NSW. Picture: Toby Zerna

And many are looking to Government for assurance, to give hope, show leadership but accepting we can’t make it rain.

This is occurring through drought support, fast tracking regional infrastructure projects and water projects, recent announcements about dams, and the will of Government to bring in emergency powers to keep our communities going.

When I return to Sydney, I talk at length at events, meetings and even with colleagues of how hard it is in the bush, and honestly, I get very emotional.

Sydney-siders ask me ‘what can we do?’

This is the billion dollar question. My answer is and has been, what are you prepared to go without?

The reality is the budget is always under pressure and there are always competing interests, agency v agency, and metro v bush.

So let me put this to you, what if we cut (temporarily) some programs, non-core services and infrastructure projects in Sydney?

What about our election commitments, can they be delayed? And what about going into temporary deficit?

I consider these questions all reasonable, as these are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro is calling for city-slickers to go without to help with drought relief.

There isn’t a manual to tell us exactly what to do in times like these, but hiding behind processes and jurisdictional responsibilities is not acceptable.

If there was ever a moment in time, an overwhelming mandate by the Australian public, it’s now. It’s drought!

We need to be honest, upfront and trust the Australian public to help us. Let’s have the conversation, put everything on the table and allow our citizens to guide us.

We don’t need a “war cabinet” of politicians, we have the voting public. It’s their taxes, they are the shareholders of Government, let’s just ask the question.

Like the acceptance of a higher Medicare levy to fund the NDIS, Australians will always sacrifice for those that are most vulnerable.

And in my mind the fragile nature of our regional communities off the back of the worst drought in recorded history, currently makes regional NSW the most vulnerable sector of society.

So my question is, as the bush does with little, what will you do without?

John Barilaro is Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW