Representative of the Central West Drought Action Group Rob Lennon has warned local farmers not to expect too much from the Federal Government’s extension of drought funding in a range of areas throughout NSW.
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A spokesperson for agriculture minister Tony Burke yesterday said they hoped to have
some details about the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) assistance assessment process by Monday.
Mr Lennon said areas of the central west were assessed in February last year but EC assistance was terminated in late March after the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) noted that “seasonal conditions had improved and sustainable recovery was commencing”.
NRAC has now recommended to the minister that the Government extend EC assistance in most parts of NSW, with the exception of the Hume area, until March 31, 2011.
Mr Lennon said it could take six months from when farmers first asked for help until they potentially receive it, depending on the speed at which NRAC are deployed and how long it took them to carry out their evaluation.
“And don’t forget we were in drought for over six months before that,” he said.
“The Government recognises that ... under the current system we wait until farmers are in crisis to step in and help them,” Mr Burke said.
Mr Lennon was hopeful reinstatement would occur, but said the interest rate subsidy may probably start at just 50 per
cent.
“It’s important not to pre-empt anything too much, but we’re still pushing strongly to have funding reinstated back to the April 1, 2009, and at a level of 70 per cent which is where we left off.”
Rural Financial Counselling Service CEO Jeff Caldbeck said farmers were relying on the extension of the EC assistance to get back on their feet after suffering a long drought.
“Hopefully the way the season is turning out we might get a good year,” he said.
