NSW Drought: $500 million package announced | Video, photos, pictures
NSW Government’s $500m helping hand for drought-affected farmers
FARMING HELP: Andrew Kelly and his daughter Scarlett, 3, following NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's (on right) announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought6
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought1
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro at the announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought3
Grazier Andrew Kelly and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought6
Bathurst MP Paul Toole at the announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought5
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought10
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian with brothers Stuart and Andrew Kelly and Scarlett Kelly, 3, at the announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought8
Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair at the announcement of the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package in Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought4
Robynne Kelly and her granddaughter Scarlett Kelly, 3, on their Newbridge farm called 'Ferndale'. 073018nmdrought12
'Ferndale' is the Kelly family farm at Newbridge following the $500 million Emergency Drought Relief Package annoucement. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought9
'Ferndale' is the Kelly family farm at Newbridge. Photo: NADINE MORTON 073018nmdrought11
GRAZIERS just like the Kelly family in Newbridge will be among those who will be helped by the NSW Government’s new $500 million drought package.
Currently, 99 per cent of the state has been declared in drought or drought-affected and the lack of rain has led to crippling conditions for many primary producers.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited the Kelly family farm on Monday to announce the funding package and said it would focus on a number of key areas.
During her visit she described conditions as unforgiving and dire.
The three major elements of the package include: transport subsidies; cutting fees and charges for farmers including a waiver of Local Land Service rates; and a boost to the Farm Innovation Fund infrastructure program.
Freight subsidies will be backdated to January 1 this year.
Funds will also be available for: counselling and mental health; critical services including transporting water and drought-related road upgrades and repairs; animal welfare and stock disposal.
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) July 30, 2018
“This has been an unforgivingly dry winter, we knew as a government we had to do more,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Conditions have not relented, conditions are getting worse. If there’s more we need to do, we will.”
Grazier Andrew Kelly runs merino sheep and cattle on his family’s farm and said many producers across the state were doing it very tough.
“There’s plenty of farming businesses out there that are in some dire need of some help at the moment,” he said.
“We’re in an unprecedented time at the moment and the stats don’t lie. I looked at plenty of weather stations all over NSW in the last few days and we’re below our fifth percentile in median rainfall for the last 12 months so that makes things pretty tough.”
Rural Aid founder Charles Alder praised the funding announcement.
“We need to acknowledge that the drought assistance the NSW Government has put out today is a great step and it will provide some relief for farmers in terms of their ability to claim back to the first of January, but but also claim $20,000 worth of freight subsidy,” he said.
Mr Alder said it was a “significant gift from the NSW Government” that interest had been waived on the Drought Innovation fund loans.
- For help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.