A visit to drought affected areas in the state's north west has revealed to NSW Premier Mike Baird just how desperate the situation is and it is hoped it may lead to more assistance for farmers from the state government.
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Mr Baird and Agriculture Minister Katrina Hodgkinson were invited by the NSW Farmers Association to fly out to Weilmoringle, near Brewarrina, on the Queensland border and talk to farmers and their families, as well as see first hand the devastation the drought has caused.
NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said farmers in the north west feel they have been abandoned by all levels of government but she hopes the visit has encouraged the Premier to find additional funding to help farmers.
"It would have been good to have an announcement on the ground but from this, NSW farmers have been given the opportunity to sit down with the Premier and have a conversation about what needs to happen," Ms Simson said.
"I don't think the Premier has much experience of farming in the north west and I think he was genuinely moved by what he saw up there. The opportunity to talk to farmers who are going through this drought was also really helpful.
"There is a genuine feeling from farmers that the state government has walked away from them. There is no transport subsidies, no more water infrastructure and the assistance that is available from the federal government isn't much better."
Premier Baird said the government is keeping a close eye on the situation and will use the information gathered on the trip to respond to the issue.
"Flying over the New England and the North West has given me a clear and alarming picture of just how tough conditions are across the state," Mr Baird said.
"Despite recent rain over some parts of NSW, some areas in the North West are currently experiencing the driest 12-month period in 200 years of rainfall records."
Ms Simson said it isn't just farmers who are doing it tough, with rural communities who rely on a strong agriculture industry also really struggling.
"We also had mayors from surrounding areas come along to talk to the Premier," she said.
"We have made it clear to the government that by assisting landowners, a significant amount of that money would flow back into the community."
Traditional methods of determining drought and assistance also need reviewing.
"Droughts don't adhere to lines on maps. The idea drought conditions being declared by shire doesn't work anymore. You have Coonamble where part of the shire is doing it really tough and another part is okay and you have Nyngan, where some farmers are having their best season ever and others are struggling to get by," Ms Simson said.