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Tony Abbott promises farm aid after 'listening' tour of drought areas Tony Abbott promises farm aid after 'listening' tour of drought areas
(7 months 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 40,000-hectratre family near Bourke on Sunday morning.
prime minister, along with agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, visited a Phil Ridge, who runs the farm alongside his wife Di, said that farmers needed money to help deal with the effects of drought, citing rural debt, weed and pest control and education allowances as challenges the government needs to address.
40,000-hectratre family near Bourke on Sunday morning. According 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 skies did open during Abbott’s visit, however.
Phil
Ridge, who runs the farm alongside his wife Di, said that farmers
needed money to help deal with the effects of drought, citing rural
debt, weed and pest control and education allowances as challenges the
government needs to address.
According
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
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 myself what’s needed to respond to this drought because the 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 fair and fiscally responsible.”
read the letters and emails that country people have sent and I want to see Abbott 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 people in rural areas.
myself what’s needed to respond to this drought because the
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
fair and fiscally responsible.”
Abbott
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
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. Some farmers in these areas have not had significant rainfall since July 2012.
tour will take in Broken Hill, in NSW, and Longreach in Queensland. 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.
Some farmers in these areas have not had significant rainfall since July According to the bureau, January rainfall was “very much below average” across north and west Queensland, through NSW to Victoria. Areas of South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania have also experienced a lack of rain.
2012. Central Queensland and central and northern NSW are experiencing “serious to severe deficiencies” in rain, according to the bureau. Most of Queensland, NSW and South Australia have received less than 70% of the long-term average rainfall over the past 22 months.
The The National Farmers Federation has proposed a drought relief package, including labour wage assistance and improved social services for farmers.
Bureau of Meteorology has forecast some rain for the Bourke area in the “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 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 minister out here.
coming days, but it is not expected to be drought breaking. “We have 70% of Queensland and 52% of NSW in drought, some farmers don’t have any livestock left on their properties. We’ve had record high temperatures and record low rainfall. What’s different about this drought is how big it is – it covers a huge area and hundreds of communities.
According to the bureau,
January rainfall was “very much below average” across north and west
Queensland, through NSW to Victoria. Areas of South Australia, Western
Australia and Tasmania have also experienced a lack of rain.
Central
Queensland and central and northern NSW are experiencing “serious to
severe deficiencies” in rain, according to the bureau. Most of
Queensland, NSW and South Australia have received less than 70% of the
long-term average rainfall over the past 22 months.
The
National Farmers Federation has proposed a drought relief
package, including labour wage assistance and improved social services
for farmers.
“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
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
minister out here.
“We have 70% of
Queensland and 52% of NSW in drought, some farmers don’t have any
livestock left on their properties. We’ve had record high temperatures
and record low rainfall. What’s different about this drought is how big
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 Californian farmers deal with a crippling drought. Obama said there was “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.
tour coincides with a pledge by US president Barack Obama to help
Californian farmers deal with a crippling drought. Obama said there was
“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.