More support sought for flood-affected farmers

THE Liberal and National parties are continuing calls for Federal and State governments to urgently amend Category C and D disaster recovery funding to the maximum thresholds of $50,000 for small businesses and $75,000 for primary producers.

Local MPs say the current $25,000 threshold is simply not enough, however Labor Ministers have urged primary producers to submit impact assessments so the government can consider further support.

“The primary industries natural disaster damage assessment survey, which is on my department’s website, is available now for farmers and other primary producers to report damage,” Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said in parliament.

“As they work to get through this period, that system is set up for people to report specific damage that they see.

“That gets fed through the Government’s processes to determine what support, if any, is needed going forward.

“But up to $25,000 in grants are available now, and I encourage people who need that support to apply.”

NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders, meeting flood-affected farmers on the Mid North Coast last week, said the onus was being put on farmers to “try and prove how severe this event was”.

“Both the Prime Minister and the Premier have visited properties where people have lost absolutely everything,” he said.

“They have heard similar stories to what we’ve heard today, so it’s disgraceful to think they still don’t understand the reality of this when they have literally seen it with their own eyes.

“Businesses and producers of all kinds are feeling majorly let down right now and they need a much higher level of support so they have a pathway forward or they won’t be able to survive.”

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the $25,000 threshold “flies in the face of the devastation”.

“We are looking at generational farmers and businesses who simply will not survive without this assistance, and who have been meaningfully contributing to our local economies for decades,” he said.

Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer noted that all levels of government had represented the needs of their communities yet calls remained unanswered.

“We have all met with individuals, businesses, farmers and local council representatives alongside the Recovery and Disaster Management Ministerial teams in the past few weeks,” he said.

“Every local representative has advocated to the Ministers on behalf of their communities and as State Members we have been knocking on the doors in Parliament to see this achieved.

“But we still have not had the assurances we so desperately need, despite the platitudes.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said the NSW Government is working with the Commonwealth to provide a wide range of support for communities impacted by the recent severe weather.

“Some of these regions have been hit with two natural disasters in recent months, so we are providing assistance for small businesses and non-profit organisations to help them bounce back,” Mr Dib said.

“The grants of up to $25,000 will help with the clean-up efforts and are part of a raft of disaster recovery support payments to assist affected communities.”