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More Farmers To Receive Drought Aid From CommonwealthThe Liberal Party welcomes the Commonwealth Government announcement that 3100 farmers in the Mallee and Northern Wimmera will be eligible for full Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought assistance. By Philip Davis - 3rd June 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said the declaration is welcome news for dry land farmers in the northern Wimmera/Mallee and dairy farmers in the Murray Irrigation district who are severely affected by the drought.
"It is crunch time for these areas of Victoria – if it does not rain in the next couple of weeks, these farmers are in dire trouble," Mr Davis said.
"The extension of EC to these regions will help ease the burden created by eight years of drought."
Mr Davis said he was pleased the Commonwealth Government had taken the lead on providing assistance to drought affected farmers in Victoria, since no help had been forthcoming from the Bracks Government.
Mr Davis said the Bracks Government had done nothing but ignore the plight of drought affected farmers, failing to even mention them in the 2005-06 State Budget.
"In fact, Premier Steve Bracks refused to visit any drought affected regions of Victoria until the Liberal Party shamed them into it last week," he said.
"It wasn’t until the Leader of the Liberal Party Robert Doyle and myself visited the Warracknabeal region last Friday that the Premier hurriedly organised a visit just two days later.
"And where was Labor’s Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron? Missing in action again. Bob Cameron’s lack of interest in the drought and its impact on country Victoria is shameful.
"What will it take to snap the Bracks Government to attention and make them realise this drought is devastating farmers, families, communities and Victoria’s primary industries?"
Mr Davis said the Bracks Government chose to sit on their hands and watch country families suffer rather than lend a hand.
"The Bracks Government axed its state-based drought assistance program just after the 2002 election," he said.
"Since then, Steve Bracks and Bob Cameron have been happy to sit on the sidelines and score cheap political points against the Commonwealth Government which is providing assistance to our drought affected farmers."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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