STATE Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh was told more government funding was needed for Cloncurry graziers.
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Mr McVeigh toured Cloncurry and Boulia last Thursday to inspect drought conditions.
In a meeting with the minister, Cloncurry Shire Mayor Andrew Daniels said more funding was needed, and that the federal government's Farm Finance Concessional Loan was not useful.
Cr Daniels said the scheme was a form of ``monopoly money'', which only provided credit for graziers already in debt.
The $420-million scheme allows farm businesses to restructure existing debt through access to low-interest loans.
Mr McVeigh said no local grazier had applied for the grant, even though applications closed on April 30.
This could be because the package did not provide the type of relief needed for local graziers, Mr McVeigh said.
Mr McVeigh said the loan was created to relieve existing debt burdens for farmers.
The scheme was not aimed at providing drought relief.
Cr Daniels said Mr McVeigh told him before leaving Cloncurry that he was doing his best to improve local farming conditions.
