The NSW Premier has unveiled a major emergency drought funding package, which is set to help Upper Hunter farmers.
The $500 million package means each farmer can claim a 50% freight subsidy up to the value of $20,000 and can backdate the relief to January 1 this year.
In addition, Local Land Services rates will be waived, along with registration costs for class one agricultural vehicles and interest on Farm Innovation Fund loans.
The package also includes funding for counselling and mental health services; services to transport water and drought-related road upgrades and repairs and animal welfare and stock disposal.
It means the state government has now invested $1 billion responding to the drought.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald joined Premier Berejiklian in Bathurst today to make the announcement and believes this package will go a long way, locally.
"The Upper Hunter is one of those areas that's been in drought the longest - 18 months or even 2 years in some places - people have really got their backs to the wall," he said, "I think this will go a long way to supporting our farmers, keeping them going hopefully until the rains come."
Meanwhile, Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen has been calling on the government to provide for those doing it tough in his electorate and says he welcomes the measures announced today.
"I think it's a good move," Mr Johnsen said, "it's one of the things our farming community has been calling out for, for quite some time, and the fact its back-dated til January 1 puts in concrete the fact that the government is responding to the needs of farmers and transport companies to be able to respond to the lingering drought we continue to suffer here in the Upper Hunter."
The state government is urging farmers not to self-assess their eligibility, with the NSW Rural Assistance Authority to begin processing applications from Monday, August 6.
For more information, go to www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au
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| Image: John Barilaro MP. |
