Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has moved a Notice of Motion in the NSW Legislative Assembly today calling on the NSW Labor Government to provide immediate support to farmers in his electorate with the region now deep in drought.
Mr Williamson said large parts of the Richmond and Clarence valleys have been identified as being in ‘intense drought’ with all other areas being declared ‘in drought’ by the Department of Primary Industries’ Combined Drought Indicator (CDI).
“Many farmers still recovering from the floods are now deep in drought and the Minns Labor Government appears unprepared with no drought plan in place,” Mr Williamson said.
“With the forecast of continuing dry weather for the remainder of this year it is imperative the NSW Government understands the gravity of the situation and provides immediate support to primary producers.
“Its lack of a firm action plan along with its lack of compassion for those doing it particularly tough on the land right now beggars belief, and I’m left shaking my head over Labor’s silence on the matter.”
Mr Williamson added the cost of transporting fodder is more expensive in the Northern Rivers because of restrictions that are in place due to biosecurity zones that are designed to combat the spread of fire ants into NSW from Queensland.
“The cost to transport 40 tonnes of fodder from Victoria is costed at approximately $25,000 (plus GST),” Mr Williamson said.
“The added pain for beef producers is the record low cattle prices. It is the perfect storm for those on the land.
“The last drought was the worst in living memory and it is vital producers have a clear plan of what support is available to help them manage difficult times ahead.”
The CDI is an interactive tool that provides a snapshot of current seasonal conditions for NSW, factoring in rainfall, soil moisture, and modelled pasture/crop growth indicators. By accounting for the effectiveness of rainfall, the CDI provides a more comprehensive indicator of drought conditions. Full details of the current CDI can be found here:
Department of Primary Industries – Enhanced Drought Information Systems Web Portal (nsw.gov.au)