The State government has announced a $500 million emergency drought relief package to ease the burden on struggling farmers.
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The three major elements of the package are:
• Approximately $190 million for Drought Transport Subsidies
• Approximately $100 million for cutting the cost of farming fees and charges – by waiving Local Land Services rates, waiving fixed water charges in rural and regional areas, and waiving class one agricultural vehicle registration costs, among other initiatives, and
• $150 million to bolster the Farm Innovation Fund (FIF) infrastructure program.
The package also includes funding for:
• Counselling and mental health
• Critical services in regional communities including transporting water and drought related road upgrades and repairs;
• Animal welfare and stock disposal.
“I thank the Premier, Deputy Premier and Minister for Primary Industries for continuing to listen to the agricultural and farming community,” Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said.
“It is important farmers don't self-assess their eligibility.
“They should talk to their Local Land Services or Rural Assistance Authority.”
The NSW Rural Assistance Authority will begin processing applications from Monday August 6. For more information on the NSW Government’s emergency drought relief package visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au
More in-depth analysis of the new package will be in tomorrow’s Newcastle Herald and Maitland Mercury.
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