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, as well as communities hit by ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said the $25,000 flood grants and $10,000 in cyclone support will do very little to help those affected bounce back.
“Both the Prime Minister and the Premier visited Taree, Wingham and Kempsey last week and stood on farms where people have lost absolutely everything – so while this is a start, it’s shocking to think about how they have come to this figure,” Mr Saunders said.
“Homes have been left uninhabitable, beef and dairy farmers have lost cattle, fences have been destroyed, fodder producers have lost all their crops, and the oyster industry is reeling. These are communities that are hurting badly and they need more support right now.”
Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, said it’s another blow for her community that has already been through so much.
“I couldn’t have been clearer with what people need and that’s not at all what’s being delivered right now. This is a slap in the face to our community that is desperately looking to all levels of government for their leadership,” Mrs Thompson said.
“The reality of this is the complete destruction of an industry like oysters on the Manning that will never be able to come back if they don’t get the help they deserve, it’s not just the produce and equipment but also their income for the next three years that has disappeared overnight.”
Nationals Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, said the funding is a start but not enough.
“This is a drop in the ocean for primary producers like beef and dairy farmers who have lost significant numbers of cattle and have also had their whole feed inundated,” Mr Kemp said.
“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.”
Shadow Minister for Flood Recovery Geoff Provest said it will be a long road to recovery.
“This was a catastrophic event and it comes on top of the damaged caused by ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred,” Mr Provest said.
“We have been desperately calling for category C and category D declarations to help people build back and to cover all bases but that is clearly not what we are getting here.”
Nationals Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said the Minns Government needs to ensure all impacted areas are included after the botched rollout of the personal hardship payments.
“For people to wake up and find out they haven’t been classified as living in an ‘impacted area’ despite losing everything is just absolutely crushing after what they have already been through,” Mr Layzell said.
“It’s been days of talking to Labor Ministers about this problem and it’s yet to be fixed. They need to get their act together now and also ensure the same thing doesn’t happen with this additional support.”
