Farmers in Singleton have again been left in the lurch as they battle the crippling drought.
The local government area has been left out of the latest round of Drought Communities Funding from the Federal Government because it doesn't qualify despite most of it's land area being devoted to primary production. It's the second time the shire has missed out on the assistance package which aims to fund drought projects in affected communities.
Federal criteria requires 17 percent of the local workforce to be agriculture workers - Singleton has 11-point-1 percent.
Mayor Sue Moore says the shire is just as deserving of the drought funding as Muswellbrook, which meets the criteria, and has invited Prime Minister Scott Morrison to come and see the impacts of the drought for himself.
Meanwhile, Hunter MP and Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Joel Fitzgibbon says it's another slap in the face to Hunter Valley farming communities.
"Singleton is the same country as Muswellbrook, with the same climate and the same drought. They are separated only by a line on the map, yet Muswellbrook Shire was included in the Drought Communities Program last year, and Singleton is still excluded," he said.
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| Singleton Mayor Sue Moore Picture lgfocus.com.au |
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| Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon |
