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Farmers want end to EC drought welfare
29 Oct 2008
The National Farmers Federation has suggested replacing exceptional circumstances drought funding with HECS style loans for farmers to adjust to climate change. The Productivity Commission inquiry into drought relief has heard that EC drought funding can be harmful to land management practices and biodiversity. The submission signals acceptance by farmer''s lobby groups that open ended income support for farmers will be changed significantly by the Rudd government. The NFF said exceptional circumstances drought assistance is "no longer appropriate" because of climate change and suggested three new classes of government funding. Farmers doing well could apply for innovation grants and get tax preferred savings accounts to save for bad years. Other farmers could apply for HECS loans to get through adverse seasons, while those in difficulty would get time limited household income support.
The Australian, 29/10/2008
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