Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson is backing calls by his NSW Nationals colleagues calling on the Minns Labor Government to urgently deliver a financial assistance package to help primary producers recover from the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
A joint funding package was announced today by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments to provide grants to individuals and families, but it did not include any assistance for farmers.
Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, said that while he welcomed the Premier’s recent visit to the North Coast, it is disappointing that our farmers and primary producers have been overlooked.
“This severe weather event has left every rural sector reeling,” Mr Williamson said.
“In my electorate alone, the fishing industry is still trying to recover from white spot and consecutive natural disasters, soybean crops have been damaged, and the sugar cane, beef, dairy and forestry sectors are also struggling. Agriculture supports thousands of jobs and feeds both our state and the nation. It is critical that this sector receives immediate support from the Labor Government.”
In the 2022 floods, the previous NSW and Federal Coalition Governments jointly provided Primary Producer Grants of up to $75,000, Rural Landholder Grants of up to $25,000 and Critical Producer Grants for targeted industries.
To date, no similar funding has been announced by the Minns Labor Government to assist farmers recovering from Cyclone Alfred.
Mr Williamson is calling for the immediate release of farm recovery grants to help primary producers repair fences and farm infrastructure, replant crops and restore pastures, dispose of flood debris and invest in flood-resilient infrastructure.
“There is no doubt the cyclone has created a massive clean-up effort in our coastal communities, but our rural areas – especially those outside river levee systems – have been severely impacted and completely overlooked,” Mr Williamson said.
“The Minns Government must step up and deliver real financial assistance to ensure our farmers can recover and continue producing the food and fibre we all rely on.”
FILE PHOTO: Richie Williamson with commercial fishers in the Clarence.
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