ONE of the mayors pleading for drought aid said he was not surprised by comments made by Barnaby Joyce suggesting funding would be difficult to obtain.
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The Federal Agriculture Minister spoke on ABC radio earlier this week and said he would try again for financial aid for drought-stricken areas Walgett, Brewarrina and Bouke, but was not promising anything.
"I have to apply for new money. It's difficult but we are going down that path," Mr Joyce said.
"But I don't want to give anybody a sense that just because I'm trying to see what I can do in that direction, that I'd have any success this time."
Mr Joyce said applying for natural disaster relief as planned may not bring in any more money than the areas would be received under the current funding.
"With natural disaster relief, yes, you do get a one-off payment... and you do get a concessional loan, but you probably find the concessional loan is less than what we are offering at the moment," he said.
Walgett mayor Bill Murray said he had expected Mr Joyce's response and would attempt to find an alternative method of obtaining the relief.
"We're trying to see if we can chat with (Mr Joyce) and see if there's another way of getting the money," he said.
"He's a politician and he's got to convince another nine people to agree with him, which is the problem."
Mark Coulton, Parkes MP said the assistance the areas had received had been well received, but is working to source further aid.
"The $300 million drought assistance package announced in February by the Minister for Agriculture and the Prime Minister has provided assistance to a number of farming families," he said.
"While many areas have had relief through rain over the last 6 months there are areas that are dealing with a one in one hundred year drought at Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Brewarrina. I have raised this issue with my parliamentary colleagues including the Prime Minister.
"I believe consideration does need to be given to the best way that farming families can be assisted by government. In those specific areas, the drought has been going on for three years now.
"I encourage those affected to make contact with the Rural Financial Counselling service to access the assistance which is currently available.
"This helps to provide information to the government about the help that is needed."
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