{"id":58545,"date":"2014-02-26T22:56:17","date_gmt":"2014-02-26T12:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=58545"},"modified":"2020-09-03T13:35:33","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T03:35:33","slug":"farmers-welcome-drought-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/02\/26\/farmers-welcome-drought-package\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers Welcome Drought Package"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agforce CEO Charles Burke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 26, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today’s announcement by the Federal Government of a $320 million drought assistance package has been warmly received by producer groups.<\/p>\n

AgForce CEO Charles Burke welcomed the assistance saying it reflected acknowledgement by the Federal Government of the financial and personal impacts of the drought on affected producers.<\/p>\n

However it did not address all the measures requested by producer groups, including direct wage assistance for farm workers.<\/p>\n

Mr Burke said it was vitally important that funds were now distributed “as soon as possible and that access to this assistance is streamlined without the need for onerous paperwork by applicants”.<\/p>\n

He said the changes in asset test eligibility acknowledged the “unique circumstances” of farmers and would help to increase the number of farmers that would be able to access these funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom March 3, 2014, farmers with up to $2.55 million in net farm assets will be eligible to apply for this crucial assistance, a significant increase on current limits,\u201d Mr Burke said.<\/p>\n

The total funding of the concessional loan scheme has been expanded to $280 million; however the interest rate reduction was not as substantial as anticipated, with 4 per cent loans over five years expected on offer.<\/p>\n

NFF President Brent Finlay said the announcement demonstrated that the government had listened to the NFF\u2019s call for a short-term drought relief package and had delivered many of the measures proposed by the organisation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome the government\u2019s commitment to bring forward a package that is both fiscally responsible and considerate of circumstances suffered by rural communities in many parts of Australia,\u201d Mr Finlay said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thank the Prime Minister for his recent visit to drought-affected regions. We commend Minister Joyce for his continued efforts as a champion for Australian agriculture. We also appreciate the bipartisan approach from Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said the measures delivered would address many issues faced by farmers in drought, including rising debt levels, capacity to make household payments, limited water for livestock, personal stress, and managing pest animals.<\/p>\n

Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said the package would keep jobs in the bush.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMore disposable cash in farmers\u2019 pockets means they can meet their local bills in town and get rural communities and economies going again,\u201d Mr McVeigh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis assistance is for here and now, there will be a long recovery time so will still need to discuss long-term drought policy with the Federal Government at the right time. The Prime Minister recognises agriculture has a great future beyond this drought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr McVeigh said the loans up to $1 million would allow eligible farm businesses to refinance existing debt at a lower interest rate and would cover up to 50 per cent of eligible debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also very pleased the Federal Government has brought forward the new Farm Household Allowance, starting March 3, which will put food on the table and help pay the bills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr McVeigh said other measures included an extra $12 million for water infrastructure, and for Queensland this would mean an additional $6 million to the Queensland Government\u2019s Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir extra $10.7 million for Mental Health programs will help support people suffering from depression, and the $10 million for control of feral animals, particularly wild dogs will be very welcome in Queensland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said comments from his electorate\u2019s farmers were used to model the package.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Scott said income support payments would give farming families a small reprieve from the immediate financial stress of the drought by covering some household expenses.<\/p>\n

Additional funds allocated for pest management would also be a welcome reprieve for drought-declared farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe further federal assistance for pests will be distributed through existing State Government initiatives and will prop up pest management efforts throughout the electorate, particularly those against wild dogs and kangaroos,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However State Member for Mt Isa Rob Katter said he was \u201cunderwhelmed and disappointed\u201d with the package.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough $300 million funding sounds good, the majority of it is in concessional loans at 4 per cent interest. This is only 0.5 per cent less interest than was previously offered, and quite frankly it\u2019s not what drought-devastated graziers need,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey actually need cash grants so they can afford to buy groceries for themselves and truck in food and water for their stock.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is how dire the situation is, and that is what we\u2019ve been asking for, for months now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Katter said if it was a fire or a flood, money would be made available as it has been in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s a drought, politicians just don\u2019t understand,” he said. \u201cI\u2019ve stopped calling it a drought; as far as I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s a rural crisis because it impacts right across rural communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Today\u2019s announced measures include<\/strong>:<\/p>\n