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Liberals Announce $53 Million Drought PackageThe Liberal Party has announced today an increase to the Government drought assistance package for the worst affected rural water users in Victoria, bringing the total package to $53 million. By Parliament of Victoria - 17th November 2006 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis today announced that all rural water users in Victoria currently receiving less than 50 per cent of their water entitlement will have all fixed water supply rates met under the Liberal Government Drought Assistance Package for the 2006/07 season.
"This drought is too severe to be playing politics and the Liberal Party is listening to farmers and trying to help wherever we can," Mr Davis said.
"This package is a response to what farmers have been telling us, that this drought is devastating families and comes on the back of 10 years of below average rainfall and only four years after the 2002/03 drought, one of the worst on record."
Under the Labor Government’s package, support is capped at $5000 per farmer and any fees over that amount must be repaid immediately from next year.
However the Liberal Party’s package will not be capped at $5000 per farmer, but will meet the total cost of fixed water supply rates for rural water users receiving less than 50 per cent of their entitlements in 2006/07.
"Dairy farmers in Victoria are going to the wall," Mr Davis said.
"With every head of stock culled and sold to cut costs this year, Victorian farmers will be forced to spend much more to get back to pre-drought production levels.
"With the Liberal Government package alleviating the need for immediate repayments next year, farmers will be able to avoid an extra cost that would eat into their capacity to begin restocking, which is essential to getting back to pre-drought production levels.
"This package recognises that this drought is an exceptional circumstance that requires an exceptional response to help Victorian irrigators get through to next year and keep producing food for all Victorians," Mr Davis said.
The Liberal Drought Assistance Package will be capped at $53 million and made available to meet the fixed water supply rates of all Victorian rural water users currently receiving less than 50 per cent of their water allocation for the 2006/07 irrigation season.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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