Media Release
Monday, 1st September 2003
QDO WELCOMES interim DROUGHT SUPPORT FOR Atherton Tableland dairy FARMers
The Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation (QDO), today welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to declare the Exceptional Circumstances application for the Atherton Tablelands region a prima facie case.
QDO Chief Executive Officer Adrian Peake said the declared region covers the shires of Atherton, Eacham and the north-eastern section of Herberton. “Some producers have missed out on the interim assistance, but if full EC is declared they should be covered by a buffer zone covering the rest of the Herberton and Mareeba shires, which was part of our EC application”.
“Primary producers in the main declared region will now be eligible to apply for assistance under the Federal Governments’ Interim EC assistance program, while the National Rural Advisory Council fully assesses the application” Mr Peake said.
“The dairy industry is big business on the Atherton Tableland, normally producing 40 million dollars worth of milk a year. But due to the severity of the drought, farmers have faced massive increases in feed costs, lower milk production and drastically reduced incomes. Financial losses for farmers are compounding everyday”.
“In many cases farmers have run out of irrigation water and in some cases the stock water has also dried up, along with their financial reserves. This drought has been so wide spread in Australia and so severe that there is no way farmers could have hoped to be prepared for it”.
Atherton dairy farmer and QDO State Councillor James Geraghty said due to the prolonged nature of the drought some farmers have been forced to sell off milking cows and let employees go, as they try to survive the crippling dry and wait for the normal seasonal conditions to return.
“Everyone needs to appreciate that this drought has been so severe for so long that even when it does break it will still take a long time for producers to fully recover. It doesn’t just rain money” Mr Geraghty said.
QDO CEO Adrian Peake said the QDO has worked hard in conjunction with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Dairy Farmers Co-operative, Queensland Pork Producers, regional industry representatives, the Departments of Primary Industries and Natural Resources to compile this EC application.
“We’re pleased that our efforts will enable dairy farmers and pork producers across the region to apply for assistance in these very difficult times”.
“The interim drought assistance program means that farmers in the drought-affected region covered by the declaration are now eligible to apply to Centrelink for income support payments for six months and for interest rate subsidies on new loans of up to $100,000 for two years. This interim drought assistance is available while the EC application is fully assessed by NRAC. If the region is then declared as a full EC case producers will be able to apply for additional assistance for up to two years”.
“The QDO will be sending out information packs and application forms to producers over the next week. To enquire about interim assistance measures, producers need to contact the Centrelink National Drought Hotline on 13 23 16 or visit their local Centrelink office. To apply for assistance producers also need to obtain an “Exceptional Circumstances Certificate” from the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority. This can be done over the telephone by phoning QRAA on 1800 623 946”.
Mr Peake said NRAC have just completed a tour of the Tablelands and the QDO is hopeful a quick decision will be made and full EC will be declared for the Atherton Tableland shortly.
Contact Details: Adrian Peake, QDO CEO, 07 3236 2955, or 0408 989 102.
James Geraghty, QDO Councillor/Milla Milla dairy farmer, 4097 2355 or 0427 972 355