Nationals Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, is demanding the Minns Labor Government take immediate action to support drought-affected farmers in southern NSW.
The latest figures from the Department of Primary Industries show the Cootamundra electorate is 99 per cent drought-affected, following 12 months of deteriorating conditions.
As a result, farmers across the state’s south are battling record-high freight costs, water and fodder shortages, and widespread pasture loss.
The NSW Labor Government continues to promote low-interest loans through the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund and resilience training through the Farm Business Resilience Program.
However, these measures fall short for drought-affected farmers, who have been vocal about the need for debt relief, freight and fodder subsidies, and targeted tax incentives.
“Farmers who’ve been in drought for over a year don’t need lessons on how to prepare for one, and importantly, many cannot afford to take on more debt,” Ms Cooke said.
“Our communities are clear and united about the initiatives it will take to support those who have done it tough for well over a year now.
“Many cannot afford to wait much longer for the government to grasp the seriousness of the conditions we’re experiencing in the south.”
In August, councillors and council staff from Cootamundra Gundagai, Snowy Valleys, Greater Hume Shire, Yass Valley, and Wagga Wagga held the Southern NSW Drought Summit, which was attended by state and federal representatives, including the NSW Agriculture Minister.
Ms Cooke, who attended the summit, has condemned the government’s failure to adopt any of the recommendations put forward by farmers and community leaders since that time.
She has written to the Premier, urging him to meet local representatives to discuss the government’s drought strategy as summer looms.
“The Drought Summit provided the NSW Government a practical roadmap to support farmers as conditions continue to deteriorate, and yet not even the very reasonable request for a producer-informed taskforce has been actioned,” Ms Cooke said.
“I’m respectfully urging the Premier to meet with the mayors of the Southern NSW Drought Summit, and provide our communities with some much-needed certainty that they will be supported as the hotter months set in.”
