THE number of farmers accessing a Newstart-type allowance to support them in times of hardship has tripled since a change to the program’s asset test, but some still believe the money is “unobtainable” for those who need it most.
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North Gulf Grazing Group president Barry Hughes said moving the asset limit for the Farm Household Allowance to $2.55 million was a knee-jerk reaction by the Department of Agriculture when it was under fire for its original $1.5 million asset cap.
Mr Hughes said that based on the real estate value of cattle properties across the whole North West, $2.55 million still excluded too many graziers.
“If you take the broadbrush approach to the size and scale of properties across the North and North West, $3million or $3.5 million is probably more realistic in terms of allowing people to put an application forward without being excluded on the pretext of land values,” he said.
“The value of land is not indicative of the wealth status of people in the grazing industry.”
Mr Hughes said mental health issues following the cattle industry’s debt crisis had reached boiling point in Croydon and Etheridge shires and people on the ground helping families make it through these tough times couldn’t see this government assistance filtering through to the coal face.
“I was having an interesting conversation with a pastor recently back from Etheridge shire to say the Farm Household Allowance is non-existent because before they [producers] start they know they aren’t eligible and it’s causing angst and anxiety,” he said.
The inability of farmers to get kill dates for their cattle at Australian abattoirs for up to four months had also played havoc with cashflow on properties, compounding the need for an extra allowance to cover everyday expenses.
“It’s ludicrous to think people have cashflow in product walking around the paddock that can’t be converted to service debt, put food on the table or service further water infrastructure,” Mr Hughes said.
“As you’re probably aware the energy level physically and mentally in the whole North and North West, including the communities and the industries built around them, ... there’s not gas left in the tank anywhere.
“To be putting regulations on the application process, in a time that is probably the most stressful time people have ever bloody experienced, to me, shows very little compassion.”
