The NSW Nationals are calling on the State and Federal Labor Governments to increase the minimal support announced for residents, small businesses, and primary producers impacted by devastated flooding in the Hunter, Mid-North, and North Coast regions.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders joined Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, to meet impacted farmers and business owners in Kempsey.
He said only offering grants of up to $25,000 will do very little to help them bounce back.
“Both the Prime Minister and the Premier were in the region last week and stood on farms where people have lost absolutely everything. They were talking to the same people we are talking to, so it’s shocking to think about how they have come to this figure,” Mr Saunders said.
“The feeling on the ground is one of complete devastation. There was a lot of hope around support from the Minns and Albanese Governments but that has been ripped out and replaced by growing anger.
“Businesses and producers of all kinds need the certainty to know there’s a pathway forward for the future but now they have been let down big time.
“We need all levels of government to stump up with a much higher level of support as soon as possible.”
Michael Kemp said his community has been through enough.
“Homes have been left uninhabitable, beef and dairy farmers have lost significant numbers of cattle, fences have been destroyed and fodder producers have lost future crops and earning capacity,” Mr Kemp said.
“Our region is hurting badly and in desperate need of help and this feels like another blow.
“This is a drop in the ocean when you consider there’s a strain on hay supplies and no ability to grow feed before the end of Spring, and farmers are having to offload their cattle to stay afloat, we needed this figure to start a lot higher to actually make a difference.”
