scone.com.auTime to Support Farmers in Drought
FARMERS in the Upper Hunter should have the same drought support as farmers in Queensland, who are given up to $40,000 per farm, per year, believes John Preston of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
Mr Preston, a Singleton resident, was in Rockhampton today learning more about the Queensland drought support package and is keen to talk to farmers in the Upper Hunter Shire area later this week (see contact details below).
“The Queensland package includes childcare, rates reimbursements, agistment, transport, fodder, emergency water, water licence waivers, electricity support and that’s just a few things of the top of my head and why shouldn’t we have that same support in New South Wales?” questioned Mr Preston.
“I’ve been watching the numbers cattle going through the Scone and Singleton sale yards as people are destocking,” he said.
“There are 12,277 cattle farmers in New South Wales, which make up 35 percent of the national herd and they are part of a $2.3 billion industry to this state and it just makes perfect economic sense to support this industry.
“I might add in the first quarter of 2017, this sector was the only thing that kept Australia out of a technical recession, we had the agricultural sector to thank for that and yet when times get tough through no fault of their own ‘you’re on your own pal’,” John Preston said.
Mr Preston said the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party are aiming to embarrass the government into sorting out a proper drought package for New South Wales.
“There are politicians talking about climate change with their friends in Sydney, but it seems they no longer believe in drought it is a ‘rainfall deficit’, I mean c’mon!” said Mr Preston.
“We need to be supporting our cattle farmers properly during drought and it’s not just farmer assistance it is community assistance, because when farmers go broke, so does the local car dealer and the local shopping centre,” he said.
“Nile Blair has been too busy in Parliament concentrating on $38 million cycle ways for Sydney Harbour Bridge for all his friends in the Sydney elites and Mr Barilaro is busy handing out grants to 20 something year olds with goaties sitting in orange bean bags in Newtown with pie in the sky software projects,” John Preston said.
Mr Preston is keen to visit farmers to learn more about the local drought and what drought support they need most: 0412 666 422.
More information on: Queensland Drought Assistance
Related Stories:
- Help at Hand During Drought – January 24, 2018.
- Drought Support Session – January 23, 2018.
- Is Your Property Drought Declared? – January 23, 2018.
- Sell and Weep, but Sell Anyway – January 22, 2018.
- Small Mercy in Dire Drought – January 18,2018.