February 12, 2009
Exceptional Circumstances drought assistance has been extended for Gippsland farmers for further 12 months.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the announcement provides welcome certainty for local farmers.
“There have been patchy signs of recovery over the past six months but large sections of the region are still severely affected by the drought and the bushfires have just added to the fodder shortage,” Mr Chester said.
The Minister acknowledged in Federal Parliament that the areas which had shown signs of recovery may have stalled and there is a case to be made for an interim extension of support to those regions.”
Mr Chester said he would continue to work with the Government in a bid to extend drought support to Latrobe City and dryland farmers in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID).
“I will be putting the case to the Minister on behalf of dryland farmers in the Macalister Irrigation District and Latrobe City region that they should be eligible for EC assistance,” Mr Chester said.
“When the original decision to continue EC funding was made last year, it excluded these areas and they are still struggling under severe dry conditions.
“It makes sense to include the whole region in the one classification for EC support and I will be seeking an expansion of the current boundaries to include drought-hit farms which are currently excluded receiving assistance.”
Before today’s announcement, EC support for the Central and East Gippsland region was due to expire on April 30, 2009.