Premier Announces Eyes and Ears

THE New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian has announced the government will be funding a new position for Pip Job as ‘State Drought Coordinator’.

The Premier was scheduled to make the announcement in Scone this morning, but the media conference was changed to Dubbo.

Niall Blair, Minister for Primary Industries said the new position will be key as the conditions across the state deteriorate.

“In this new role, Pip will be our eyes and ears on the ground, making sure we are providing the right support and doing so at the right time,” said Mr Blair.

“She will provide affected communities with critical information, as well as identifying any emerging risks and coordinating the Government’s drought response,” Niall Blair said.

James Archibald and Richard Bell speaking with Caroline Marcus from Sky News in Gundy in March.

Richard Bell, who owns a property 43 kilometres east of Scone said he was disappointed the announcement was about another “shiny bum” job.

“They should be able to get a response of what is needed or how things are in a region without having to employ someone for probably more than $100,000, so that is just more money that is just being washed away,” said Mr Bell.

“There is already the LLS, farmers on the ground and members of parliament and between that triangle they should be able see what is needed,” he said.

“We need help but they don’t seem to understand how bad it is and the winter forecast is terrible, they are too city-centric and the National party are too city-centric too, there is only about one that is a farmer, others have had ag (agricultural) jobs but not an actual farmer and their feet on the ground and their hands dirty,” he said.

“I’d just like to know exactly what their job is, which part of the drought are they going to co-ordinante, we need rain and I don’t think they can coordinate that,” he said.

“I’d love to know before they got rid of all of the drought subsidies in 2013 what the last drought actually cost and that is what we need to be looking at,” Richard Bell said.

John Preston, candidate for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers who is in Scone today said “the Premier must be kidding!”

“The Premier went to Dubbo with news of drought relief and farmers wanted cash, but all they got was a well-paid public service appointment,” said Mr Preston.

“The Nationals are confused about the past, embarrassed about the present and confused about the future,” he said.

“Farmers across New South Wales are demanding additional funding and subsidies, but the Government is not listening; farmers don’t need more debt and loans as drought assistance, they need financial support now,” John Preston said.

Related stories:

• Premier’s Plans Changed – May 14, 2018.
• Farmers Not Museums Need Help – May 9, 2018.
• Restrictions Applied at Worst Time – March 14, 2018.
• Farmers Speaking Out – March 13, 2018.

A paddock on Richard Bell’s property which fronts onto the Hunter River, but probably won’t be able to be irrigated due to the new restrictions.

Richard Bell speaking with John Preston about the irrigation restrictions.