LABORS DROUGHT RESPONSE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE

LABORS DROUGHT RESPONSE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP says after months of waiting for the Federal Labor Government to acknowledge the dire situation facing SA farmers in drought, visits by Albanese and his Agriculture Minister have only left rural and regional South Australians with more disappointment.

“We know drought doesn’t just appear overnight. It creeps up slowly but when it starts to hit, it hits hard. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister’s visit to SA has come months too late.”

“Farmers need immediate relief yesterday, not an out of touch Prime Minister who makes a flying visit to SA for public relations purposes,” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said, the additional funding for Rural Financial Counsellors is very welcome but does not go far enough to support drought-stricken farmers. Mr Pasin has been advocating to the Federal Minister to urgently review eligibility for the Farm Household Allowance which had not been reviewed since 2018.

“The asset and off farm income thresholds have not kept up with wage growth, inflation and land and equipment values meaning what was originally designed to be a safety net is now seeing far too many people falling through the cracks,” said Mr Pasin. 

“Primary Producers need access to capital to get through this drought. They need to get feed in the paddocks, food on the table and water in the dams and troughs.”

Mr Pasin said the Coalition established the Rural Investment Corporation (RIC) in 2018 to provide farm businesses with low interest loans to support the agriculture industry, particularly through drought. Currently approximately $330 million of South Australian farm debt was structured through RIC, which represented around 30 per cent of all RIC loans nationally.

“While I’m pleased this former Coalition Government initiative is assisting primary producers in South Australia, there are still so many farming families out there in dire need of help who are struggling to get through the red tape of eligibility and lengthy assessment times.”

Mr Pasin said in other jurisdictions, State Government’s offered short term, low interest loans to farming businesses in drought.

“Low interest loans offered through the South Australian Government and council rate relief for primary producers would be welcome initiatives that should form part of a State Government relief package. Instead, the South Australian Labor Government are increasing the Emergency Services Levy that will add to the financial pain for around 90 per cent of South Australian farmers.

“Our struggling farmers have every right to be angry at the lack of action from both State and Federal Labor. I’m pleased to see the Premier and Prime Minister visit drought affected areas of the State but they need to back it up with action on policy and support programs,” Mr Pasin said.