Local farmers will meet with drought assistance providers and a senior politician next week in the Pilliga to discuss drought assistance measures and issues associated with the worsening dry conditions.
Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, joined by representatives from the Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Rural Assistance Authority and the Department of Human Services, will be taking questions about the Farm Household Allowance and Drought Concessional Loans.
There will be short presentations on accessing drought assistance, as well as one-on-one assistance and advice on applications, debt mediation, the Family Support Programme and counselling support available through the Drought Assistance package.
Mr Coulton instigated the information day and is encouraging attendance.
"As I have said throughout this drought, it is important that farmers don’t self-assess when it comes to accessing assistance," he said.
"Farmers need to talk to professionals to ensure that they receive the correct advice so that they can access the help which is available to them."
Graham McNair from the Pilliga Drought Committee hopes people are able to take advantage of the session, which is to be held at the Pilliga Community Centre at 11 am on Thursday November 20.
“The drought is now probably worse than it’s ever been, and these concessional loans are available but a lot of people still don’t understand them or realise that the money is there,” he said.
“It’s a chance for some producers to get some help, financial situations are deteriorating daily, and people are just running out of money and starting to run out of the will to go on, which is pretty important.
“That all sounds depressing but the big point is we want people to be able to recover, and if people are going to recover and continue, there’s going to have to be some special help and it’s not forthcoming, especially from the state government.”
Mr McNair is concerned about the lack of a cotton crop this year around Wee Waa and Narrabri.
“It’s just going to mean a lot of other people are going to lose their jobs, I’ve got neighbours who work off farm and they’re very worried that their jobs are going to be gone.
“The biggest problem most people have is paying the interest on the money that they owe, and whilst they might be able to pay the interest, it doesn’t leave them anything to run the farm.
“It’s only got to rain and things will change, I’m an optimist and I’m probably more broke than most of them.”
For more information contact Cate Bailey in my office on 02 6751 1251 or cate.bailey@aph.gov.au.