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Government help offer not enough
14 Sep 2007
Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has said that the government is considering making it easier for farmers to claim drought relief. Some farmers have said that is not enough and that a broader rural rescue package is required. As expected rain has not fallen in many regions the National Farmers Federation has urged the government to widen exceptional circumstance eligibility, including letting farm families do other work without losing the payments. Murray Valley horticultural producers have asked the government to consider support packages for local communities if their permanent plantings die, while the Mayor of Weddin Shire in central west NSW wants job seeker payments made available to farm workers. The government is currently paying $27 million each week in interest rate subsidies and provides income support to 23,000 farm families.
Financial Review, 14/09/2007
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