Hundreds of primary producers and small businesses devastated by November floods

December 4, 2009

Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker and State Member for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser today called on the NSW Government to formally request assistance for primary producers and small business who were affected by flooding in late October and November.

 

More than 120 farmers and small business people from across the Coffs Coast have contacted the two MPs detailing the huge loses which have been incurred as a result of the floods. These include residents in the Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca local government areas.   However, the State Government has refused to request from Canberra funding assistance of up to $15,000 for small businesses and primary producers affected. Such grants were provided to the victims of floods in March and May.

 

“It is clear that these most recent floods have hit primary producers and small business hard,” Mr Hartsuyker said.  “Many farmers have suffered damage to roads, creek crossings and fencing. They have also experienced substantial losses in production because crops have been destroyed and in some cases stock lost.   I also know many retailers whose premises have been flooded and are tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.”

 

Mr Fraser said many residents who contacted him have been flooded up to five times this year.  Many farmers and small businesses have only recently completed repairs as a result of earlier floods. Now they are again facing huge out of pocket expenses just to get back on their feet.  In some instances the total cost of this year’s floods is well over $100,000.   I have already highlighted this to both the Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan and Primary Industries Minister Tony Kelly.

 

“What they must realise is that for every person who has contacted either Luke or me, there are another three or four victims who have also been affected.  We are therefore talking about many hundreds of people who need this cash assistance.  It is also essential the Government relaxes the criteria for accessing the grants. Too many victims of previous floods missed out on the $15000 grants because of some technicality.  Denying primary producers the right to access grants because of off farm income ignores the commercial realities of making a living as a primary producer.

 

“Governments keep saying they want to keep farmers on the land, but then they refuse to support them when there is a natural disaster. Off farm income is a fact of life for many farmers and the assessment process must be refined to reflect that.  This year has been a particularly difficult year because of the numerous floods and that must be acknowledged by both levels of government,” Mr Fraser said.

 

Mr Hartsuyker said if the NSW Government refused to request the cash assistance he and Andrew Fraser would formally request the assistance from Canberra.   "After refusing to provide one off cash grants for March flood victims the Commonwealth did extend the grants of $1000 per adult and $400 per child to November victims.   That acknowledged the true impact of these floods and therefore justifies assistance being offered to small business and primary producers.

 

“If it was good enough for March and May flood victims why are November victims being denied?”

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