IT TAKES a lot to prise money out of the State Government, it seems, unless they’re trying to plug an $11.5 billion hole in the $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Link (East)!
Take the measly $5000 they’re offering under the Farm Drought Support Grants for impacted farmers to implement on-farm drought-proofing infrastructure improvements and undertake essential business activities.
Woolamai farmer Wayne Churchill, with the help of his sister Jenny, applied for one of the grants as soon as they were announced.
“That was three months ago,” said Wayne this week.
“We couldn’t seem to get anywhere with it, so I phoned Melina Bath, and she raised it in State Parliament last Tuesday, for which we are very grateful.
“You couldn’t believe it, but they called Jenny the next morning, on Wednesday, to say it had been approved.
Melina called me and said quite a few of the MPs in there at the time said their local farmers were having similar issues, but that they hadn’t heard anyone waiting as long as that.”
It’s not a hand out! Drought affected farmers have to put up at least a matching amount of $5000 or more and complete the works within three months.
“We’ll be introducing a number of drought-proofing measures. We’re grateful for the grant but the delay’s been frustrating.”
Here’s what the Nationals’ representative for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath said in parliament:
“My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Wayne Churchill, a farmer from Woolamai, applied for a farm drought support grant on June, 24 fulfilling all the obligations, including the declaration of his annual income. Seven weeks have passed, and Mr Churchill is yet to receive any acknowledgement, correspondence or financial assistance.
“This delay has a direct impact on his farm operations. The grant is required in order for him to increase his dam capacity in winter, enabling him to restock for summer – exactly what these grants are supposed to be about.
“Due to the lack of communication and support, his water supply will now be insufficient unless there is above average rainfall. Given the urgency and the seasonal dependency on such infrastructure improvements, can the minister expedite his case and ensure that he gets this grant in a timely manner – this week?”
The Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, to give her due credit, did more than that, she made it happen the very next day.
But Ms Bath said farmers shouldn’t have to go cap-in-hand to the government when they were providing an essential service.
“Gippsland farmers have been facing unacceptable delays in the processing of the government’s emergency drought support scheme applications. In May, the government finally deemed primary producers in Bass Coast, South Gippsland, and Baw Baw Shires eligible to apply. Yet, months later many drought-stricken Gippsland farmers have not received a cent or an acknowledgment of their application.
“It’s a poor reflection of the government’s priorities. It should not take a question to be asked in parliament for emergency drought support funding to be released to a stricken farmer,” said Ms Bath.
“Mr Churchill needed to access drought funding to urgently increase his dam capacity over winter - a critical step to ensure water security and enable restocking during summer,” she said.
“Mr Churchill’s situation is not isolated – it highlights serious flaws in the government’s drought scheme and their ability to support farmers when it matters most. The scheme’s serious shortcomings must be urgently addressed by the Allan Government to ensure all applications are processed in a timely and compassionate manner.
“Our primary producers are the backbone of our rural communities – we rely on them for the food on our tables and prosperity in our towns. “Drought inflicts enormous stress on rural farming families and communities – when farmers struggle with drought, everyone suffers.”