WARD JOINS LOCAL FARMERS IN SLAMMING LABOR’S ‘INEFFECTIVE’ SUPPORT

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has joined local farmers in slamming NSW Labor in light of new evidence that shows Labor’s support for primary producers is grossly deficient.

In response to a Question on Notice, the Minister for Agriculture has confirmed following the 2022 floods, 18,840 grants were issued to support primary producers compared to just 5 since the April floods this year.

Mr Ward’s questions and the Minster’s response can be found here: Question and Answer Tracking Details

“Labor’s definition of NSW is Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. They simply don’t care about farmers,” Mr Ward said.

“The key difference is that the former coalition government recognised that farmers needed direct financial assistance to get back on their feet. Whereas Labor are simply offering loans.

“Labor just don’t understand the needs of local primary producers.

“Farmers don’t need more ‘plans’, more bureaucracy and loans, they need direct financial assistance following natural disasters.

“I don’t want to see us importing agriculture produce. I want to buy and consume Australian products, but this is at risk without the right support for local Aussie farmers.

Local farmer Graeme Cochrane said loans just don’t work.

“Loans don’t help us. We just need a helping hand when we are at our most desperate that gets us back on track doing what we are all good at, that being producing milk and food for our communities,” Mr Cochrane said.

“We all have enough loans through our business’s so taking on another loan to survive is just added pressure that we don’t need when in tough times we are under immense pressure every day.

“A grant helps us straight away and also makes us feel well supported when we need it most.

“This year has been our most horrendous since the floods you saw back in April.

"I’m just on our paddocks today getting things back in shape, next year could be even worse as our springtime August - November sets us up for the next 12 months ahead.

“I’m planting paddocks now, when I should be conserving feed,” Mr Cochrane concluded.

ENDS