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Tony Abbott promises farm aid after 'listening' tour of drought areas | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Tony Abbott has embarked on the first leg of a two-day “listening tour” of drought-hit areas in western NSW and Queensland. | Tony Abbott has embarked on the first leg of a two-day “listening tour” of drought-hit areas in western NSW and Queensland. |
The | The |
prime minister, along with agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, visited a | prime minister, along with agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, visited a |
40,000-hectratre family near Bourke on Sunday morning. | 40,000-hectratre family near Bourke on Sunday morning. |
Phil | Phil |
Ridge, who runs the farm alongside his wife Di, said that farmers | Ridge, who runs the farm alongside his wife Di, said that farmers |
needed money to help deal with the effects of drought, citing rural | needed money to help deal with the effects of drought, citing rural |
debt, weed and pest control and education allowances as challenges the | debt, weed and pest control and education allowances as challenges the |
government needs to address. | government needs to address. |
According | According |
to AAP, Ridge’s farm received only 120mm of rain in 2013 and none this | to AAP, Ridge’s farm received only 120mm of rain in 2013 and none this |
year, significantly down on the long-term average of 350mm of rain. The | year, significantly down on the long-term average of 350mm of rain. The |
skies did open during Abbott’s visit, however. | skies did open during Abbott’s visit, however. |
In a statement, Abbott said: “This hasn’t just been a dry summer, it’s been a dry couple of years. | In a statement, Abbott said: “This hasn’t just been a dry summer, it’s been a dry couple of years. |
“I’ve | “I’ve |
read the letters and emails that country people have sent and I want to see | read the letters and emails that country people have sent and I want to see |
myself what’s needed to respond to this drought because the | myself what’s needed to respond to this drought because the |
government response must be targeted, effective and not caught up in red | government response must be targeted, effective and not caught up in red |
tape. I know more needs to be done and it will be done in a way that’s | tape. I know more needs to be done and it will be done in a way that’s |
fair and fiscally responsible.” | fair and fiscally responsible.” |
Abbott | Abbott |
added the drought was “another reason why we’ve got to get rid of the | added the drought was “another reason why we’ve got to get rid of the |
carbon tax”, in order to help bring down electricity and gas bills for | carbon tax”, in order to help bring down electricity and gas bills for |
people in rural areas. | people in rural areas. |
The government is considering its options for drought support, such as backing bank loans for farmers. | The government is considering its options for drought support, such as backing bank loans for farmers. |
Abbott’s | Abbott’s |
tour will take in Broken Hill, in NSW, and Longreach in Queensland. | tour will take in Broken Hill, in NSW, and Longreach in Queensland. |
Some farmers in these areas have not had significant rainfall since July | Some farmers in these areas have not had significant rainfall since July |
2012. | 2012. |
The | The |
Bureau of Meteorology has forecast some rain for the Bourke area in the | Bureau of Meteorology has forecast some rain for the Bourke area in the |
coming days, but it is not expected to be drought breaking. | coming days, but it is not expected to be drought breaking. |
According to the bureau, | According to the bureau, |
January rainfall was “very much below average” across north and west | January rainfall was “very much below average” across north and west |
Queensland, through NSW to Victoria. Areas of South Australia, Western | Queensland, through NSW to Victoria. Areas of South Australia, Western |
Australia and Tasmania have also experienced a lack of rain. | Australia and Tasmania have also experienced a lack of rain. |
Central | Central |
Queensland and central and northern NSW are experiencing “serious to | Queensland and central and northern NSW are experiencing “serious to |
severe deficiencies” in rain, according to the bureau. Most of | severe deficiencies” in rain, according to the bureau. Most of |
Queensland, NSW and South Australia have received less than 70% of the | Queensland, NSW and South Australia have received less than 70% of the |
long-term average rainfall over the past 22 months. | long-term average rainfall over the past 22 months. |
The | The |
National Farmers Federation has proposed a drought relief | National Farmers Federation has proposed a drought relief |
package, including labour wage assistance and improved social services | package, including labour wage assistance and improved social services |
for farmers. | for farmers. |
“It’s good to see the prime minister is coming here | “It’s good to see the prime minister is coming here |
and listening to people in the business and hear what they have to deal | and listening to people in the business and hear what they have to deal |
with,” NFF president Brett Finlay told Guardian Australia. “We aren’t expecting him to announce | with,” NFF president Brett Finlay told Guardian Australia. “We aren’t expecting him to announce |
anything as such, but people have said they want to see the prime | anything as such, but people have said they want to see the prime |
minister out here. | minister out here. |
“We have 70% of | “We have 70% of |
Queensland and 52% of NSW in drought, some farmers don’t have any | Queensland and 52% of NSW in drought, some farmers don’t have any |
livestock left on their properties. We’ve had record high temperatures | livestock left on their properties. We’ve had record high temperatures |
and record low rainfall. What’s different about this drought is how big | and record low rainfall. What’s different about this drought is how big |
it is – it covers a huge area and hundreds of communities. | it is – it covers a huge area and hundreds of communities. |
“We need long-term measures to deal with drought. The worst time to deal with drought is in the middle of it.” | “We need long-term measures to deal with drought. The worst time to deal with drought is in the middle of it.” |
Abbott’s | Abbott’s |
tour coincides with a pledge by US president Barack Obama to help | tour coincides with a pledge by US president Barack Obama to help |
Californian farmers deal with a crippling drought. Obama said there was | Californian farmers deal with a crippling drought. Obama said there was |
“no doubt” that climate change was playing a role in drought and that | “no doubt” that climate change was playing a role in drought and that |
more needed to be done to prepare for a scenario involving reduced rain. | more needed to be done to prepare for a scenario involving reduced rain. |