Aussie Hay Runners charity blasts SA government roadblock in farmer drought relief bid
Hundreds of trucks are at the ready with desperately needed relief for SA’s drought-stricken farms. But the charity behind the convoy says it has a major problem.
A Victorian charity wants to deliver more than 200 truckloads of donated hay to drought-stricken SA farmers but has waited nearly three weeks for the state government to commit to pay delivery costs.
Aussie Hay Runners founder Linda Widdup said she met with Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven on February 20 and outlined a plan to deliver the 210 loads of hay to 240 farmers in desperate need of feed for starving sheep and cattle.
But none of the hay has been delivered as the charity awaits a response for its request for the state government to chip in $3m to fund the diesel needed to deliver this hay, valued at $700,000, plus probable future donations.
“Please find some money for those people – please help your farmers,” Ms Widdup urged Ms Scriven and Premier Peter Malinauskas.
“We’re a group of Victorians that is willing to do whatever it takes to try and give your farmers a hand up that they so deserve.
“They really have done everything in their power that they can and they are now on their knees because there is nowhere else to turn.
“Let’s get together and let’s get those people the bales that they need to get them through. And, you know, they just need the funding and we need it ASAP.”
Ms Widdup said farmers aged in their 80s and 90s had told her they had never seen a drought this bad. Aussie Hay Runners, which is affiliated with Heyfield Lions Club, was among charities that delivered more than 100 truckloads of donated hay to SA farmers in January after the state government agreed to pay for delivery costs.
Ms Widdup said her phone had “blown up” with further requests for help after that run. She said she had volunteer truck drivers ready to go but needed the government to fund the diesel costs.
“It’s heartbreaking for them, it really is,” she said. “The hay is waiting to go, it’s just a matter of waiting on the fuel funding to get it over there.”
Opposition primary industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti said farmers were doing all they could to keep their livestock alive and could not afford to wait for the hay to be delivered.
“There are 210 loads waiting and ready to go,” she said. “That’s 7560 hay bales that could be in the hands of South Australian farmers in crisis, but instead the government is delaying action and it’s coming at the cost of our primary producers and their livestock who are desperate for feed.”
The state government has announced an $18m drought support package but the Opposition has called for more.
Ms Centofanti said the drought support should be broadened to include water carting subsidies, funding for hay deliveries and no or low-interest concession loads to help farmers buy essentials such as fodder and fertiliser.
Ms Scriven said the government’s drought support package included donated fodder transport subsidies and targeted hay runs but funding for additional hay runs was under consideration.
“There are currently five charitable organisations participating in the Donated Fodder Transport Drought Assistance Scheme, including Aussie Hay Runners, and any additional assistance would be considered alongside the other charities involved,” she said.
“The state government continues to monitor the situation and will determine further drought support where appropriate.
“We recognise the federal government has significant financial supports available to farmers, including low-interest loans, and we want to help our industry access this help as quickly as possible.”
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Originally published as Aussie Hay Runners charity blasts SA government roadblock in farmer drought relief bid
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