Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to urge Cabinet to support drought-hit farmers

Updated

Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has told drought-stricken farmers that he plans to take their calls for urgent assistance to Cabinet.

In parts of New South Wales and Queensland, water is fast running out, debt is rising, farmers are hand-feeding stock and in some extreme cases facing the prospect of shooting their animals.

Mr Joyce toured affected areas on the weekend, and says many farmers have a drought strategy to cover them for at least a year without rain.

But he says it is now almost two years since a significant rainfall in some communities, and many landholders have spent their life savings trying to keep stock alive.

He wants Cabinet to sign off on a multibillion-dollar assistance package, but he admits he has a big fight on his hands to convince his colleagues.

"There are 19 people in the Cabinet," he told the ABC.

"I'm one voice and there are a couple of other whose are always favourable, but you've got to realise you've got to convince 10 at least to try to get your idea across the line."

Mr Joyce says he has been spurred into action by reports of farmer suicides as the situation gets tougher.

"Once the drought goes on for a certain period of time, you can't plan for it. It becomes a crisis," he said.

"For so long we've just hoped and prayed for rain, but the rain hasn't happened. So, now we have to be logical about what we do next."

Clear difference between helping farmers and bailing out companies, says Coalition

Cabinet has recently rejected requests for assistance from SPC Ardmona and Holden, but Mr Joyce says this is different.

"These are people who are not backed up by a multiple-billion dollar company. They are individuals, they are mum and dads, they are Australian citizens," he said.

"Doing what we always thought was noble and right, they've gone out into the country to scratch a living from the earth so as to put export dollars on the table for our nation."

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey agrees there is a clear difference between bailing out struggling businesses and helping farmers affected by drought.

"The difference between a drought and what's happened at SPC Ardmona or any one-off grant is the fact that a drought at its worst is a complete natural disaster and appropriately, state and federal governments work together to help those affected by natural disasters," he said.

Mr Hockey says a new drought policy will come into effect in July but in the meantime, he's urging farmers to access the assistance already available.

"There is currently capacity to provide drought assistance through exceptional circumstances," he said.

"I want to start by saying I know and the [Prime Minister] knows we're all very aware of what's happening in regional and rural Australia.

"What is looming as a very significant drought represents a challenge not just for the farmers but for the economy more generally. We're very, very aware of it."

Topics: rural, drought, climate-change, federal-government, livestock, agribusiness, qld, nsw, walgett-2832

First posted