SA farmers given $55m drought lifeline, but more focus on mental health needed says John Lush

Struggling SA farmers say a $55 million drought package offers a vital boost—but one old cocky warns the mental health cracks are starting to show.

Premier Peter Malinauskas will today announce an extra $55 million to help drought-stricken farmers cope with one of the most devastating dry spells in state history.

The package builds on an $18m plan revealed in November and includes significant bolstering the money available for on-farm infrastructure grants and extra cash to help charities transport donated hay to starving animals.

The drought package also includes rebates from the emergency services levy and vehicle registration fees and money for mental health support – measures called for in The Advertiser’s For Pete Sake campaign.

Farmers on the brink

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced a drought relief package. Pic. RoyVPhotography

John Lush has seen it all across his 57 years of crop farming on the outskirts of Mallala.

The now 80-year-old fought alongside his family to protect their property when the Pinery bushfires tore through in 2015, destroying his son’s home.

Despite witnessing first-hand the devastation of the ferocious bushfire, he admits this year’s drought is a completely different beast, especially for young farmers trying to break into the industry.

“For some of them it is life and death,” the longtime wheat and canola farmer said.

“The debt level climbs pretty quickly when you’ve got to spend up to a million dollars to sew crops and then you get nothing back.

“Financial hardship is debilitating, it is really tough on your ability to see a future and be optimistic about it.

“A lot of people will say they are fine, but the next week they are suicidal.”

Recent figures reveal suicide rates among farmers in Australia is up to 94 per cent higher than non-farmers, with one farmer on average dying by suicide every ten days.

He says those figures will just continue to skyrocket, with this year’s rainfall the joint worst in his almost 60 years on the Adelaide Plains.

But for farmers like John there is help on the way, with Premier Peter Malinauskas revealing $55 million will be spent to help drought-stricken producers cope with one of the driest spells in state history.

The package, which builds on an $18 million plan announced in November, includes rebates from the emergency services levy and vehicle registration fees, as well bolstering the money available for on-farm infrastructure grants.

“A lot of people say will say they are fine, but the next week they are suicidal,” John Lush. Pic. RoyVPhotography

But John admits a $2.5 million package to provide mental health support to farmers - in the short and long term - will have the greatest impact.

“When it does rain, and it will, it won’t rain money but it means we can get on with our lives,” he said.

“None of us are going to have any income until November, December, January so we’ve got to get through that period of sewing a crop, keeping our livestock alive and paying our bills.

“I hope the farmers across South Australia realise the State Government doesn’t have a magic bullet, but it can do what it can do to help.

“When you hear a State Government trying to help, as much as it can, then it does help with your mental stability as somebody does care.”

It comes after The Advertiser advocated for farmers across the state in its For Pete Sake campaign.

“We cannot make it rain,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser.
“But we can take practical action to support our farmers and help them prepare for the next drought.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas will today announce an extra $55 million to help drought-stricken farmers. Picture: Facebook

“We cannot make it rain,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser.

“But we can take practical action to support our farmers and help them prepare for the next drought.

“The package I announce today is wide-ranging and has been designed taking on board the direct feedback of primary producers.

“It includes immediate financial relief for those doing it toughest, significant mental health supports, support for wide regional communities and businesses.

“I encourage all South Australians to support our primary producers where they can.”

Mr Malinauskas said the second tranche of drought assistance had been designed to complement existing federal initiatives including a farm household allowance, concessional loans, resilience planning, a farm management deposit scheme and other tax measures.

The state government package includes support for regional businesses who are suffering as farmers close their cheque books, an immediate boost to mental health services and more money for regional standpipes.

It also includes measures to make bulk water available from the Bundaleer and/or Beetaloo reservoirs in the Mid North.

There is also a $17.4m allocation for “future drought fund preparedness and resilience programs”.

Andrew and Lucy Walter, 3, on their farm at Melrose. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The drought package is aimed at farmers such as the Walter family of Melrose, in the southern Flinders Ranges, whose 700ha property failed to produce a crop last year.

Andrew Walter, 45, has been forced to work 17-hour days, including two off-farm jobs, to make ends meet.

He is a fifth-generation farmer with three young daughters who he hopes will one day be part of a sixth.

Youngest Lucy is just three years old and has spent most of her life watching her parents battle the drought.

“Weather goes in cycles – we have good years and bad years,” Mr Walter said.

“Good years usually make up for the bad years, but it’s never been as bad as this.”

Mr Walter, who borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars to plant this year’s crop, doesn’t know what the future will hold if the devastating drought continues.

“The bank has said ‘That’s it’. If we can’t repay these loans – and we won’t be able to if the crops don’t grow this year – they can’t help us anymore and then we are really stuck,” he said.

Originally published as SA farmers given $55m drought lifeline, but more focus on mental health needed says John Lush