Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said he is working on a third drought assistance package for both farmers and rural communities ready to begin from July 1. It comes despite recent falls of rain that were by no means widespread enough to break the drought.
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"We still have 100 per cent of the State that is either in severe drought, drought or effected by drought, and the seasonal report heading into winter is still poor," Mr Marshall said.
While you can't say it's all about drought, drought no doubt has certainly played a part in it.
- Adam Marshall Minister for Agriculture
"One of the first things I am working on, quite quickly at the moment, is essentially a third drought assistance drought package from the NSW Government.
"It will not only assist farmers on-farm. This drought is being felt far beyond the farm gate by our country towns and businesses. There isn't a town in country NSW that hasn't seen businesses close or lay off employees because the constriction in spending caused by this drought."
Mr Marshall used Inverell as an example.
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"There, for the first time in a long, long time, we're seeing a number of businesses shut their doors. While you can't say it's all about drought, drought no doubt has certainly played a part in it," he said.
"I don't want to pre-empt anything, because I have to take a proposal through a Cabinet process, and there will be public announcements made after that.
"But at this stage, what I am looking at is a package that not only continues important assistance on-farm for primary producers, but also provides some assistance post-farm gate for contractors, small business people [and the like].
Mr Marshall said when the drought did break, he wanted to make sure the government's rural communities were still there.
