The NSW Nationals have slammed the Minns Labor Government for failing farmers in need of urgent support more than 130 days after the devastating floods in the Hunter, Mid-North, and North Coast regions.
Newly released Budget Estimates figures have revealed as of September 11, just five people out of 549 approved applicants have been able to access the full $75,000 category D disaster grant, due to the overly complex process.
At that time 1,510 applications for assistance had been received. The number has since increased to 1825 with 80 per cent of those determined.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said it shows a complete lack of understanding about the difference proper support can make.
“It’s farcical to think the Agriculture Minister has been defending a program that is clearly failing people at every level and simply isn’t delivering the support that was promised,” Mr Saunders said.
“Farmers have been left to question whether they can continue to operate in the way they have for generations, and the Minns Labor Government needs to come clean about why the money is so difficult to get, and why it won’t support the people who need help now more than ever.”
Concerns have also been raised about approved applicants only receiving a $5,000 up-front payment before having to outlay the remaining $70,000 to be able to claim it back.
Shadow Minister for Flood Recovery Geoff Provest said so many farmers are hurting, and they’re being made to feel like they have to fight tooth and nail to get back on their feet.
“Asking them to spend money they don’t have just doesn’t make sense given some have already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in cattle, crops, fencing, equipment, and income,” Mr Provest said.
Nationals Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson said her community has already been waiting far too long.
“On top of how pathetically slow it’s been to get this money out the door, the feedback I’m getting is the application process is far too onerous, which is just adding to the stress people are already facing” Mrs Thompson said.
“The mental health fatigue across the region is enormous and people are just exhausted and losing hope. The last thing our farmers need right now is to be constantly asked for more paperwork when they are just trying to survive.”
Nationals Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, said the bungled rollout goes against providing people with genuine assistance.
“Our farmers have been waiting weeks in silence for help and many are on the brink of walking away because this government has forgotten them.
“We are talking about the primary producers who work hard for us every single day. They are the backbone of our state, and this is the thanks they get.”
Nationals Member for Upper Hunter, Dave Layzell, said communities have been through so much since the devastating floods and the Minns Labor Government hasn’t given them a fighting chance to recover.
“First residents, businesses and farmers were playing the postcode lottery where several impacted areas were left in the lurch, and now they’re being made to jump through unrealistic hoops and hurdles, which is just a disgrace,” Mr Layzell said.
