January 31, 2020
The Queensland Dairy Farmers Organisation has called on the State Government to match NSW drought payments to farmers.
“Over the past few weeks, dairy farmers have been used as a political football as all parties test the waters of public sentiment in the lead up to the Queensland election,” QDO president Brian Tessmann said.
“None of their rhetoric has actually helped dairy farmers; instead, it has caused unnecessary division in the industry. We have asked all political parties to help dairy farmers in these extremely challenging times due to an insidious drought that has yet to break.
“The best way for the government to help Queensland dairy farmers is to immediately lift drought payments as NSW did in December.
“NSW dairy farmers are able to obtain $50,000 for freight subsidies when many dairy farmers in Queensland can only obtain $20,000.
“QDO has been very patiently waiting for the Queensland State Government to respond and has discussed this on many occasions with the appropriate representatives. Despite how obvious the need for this assistance is, we have heard nothing to suggest that Queensland will match NSW.
“So I ask the Qld State Government to show that it truly cares about our dairy farmers and value what they do by at least matching what NSW has done.”
