Following a call from 13 Western Shire Group mayors for the State Government to put in place a drought assistance package early last week, premier Bob Carr along with agriculture minister Richard Amery and NSW Farmers' Association president Mal Peters had decided to visit Bourke on Thursday that week to assess the situation.
While at Bourke the Premier announced a new drought assistance package, with measures for landholders who had experienced sustained drought in the worst affected areas of the State.
The measures would apply to about 1100 properties in Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett Rural Lands Protection Boards.
Under the package landholders would be able to apply for a subsidy for the transport of domestic water and for the transport of stock to slaughter.
A dedicated hotline had also been set up and data collection for an Exceptional Circumstances application would be fast-tracked.
The State Government has pledged to review the situation if it changed during the new cropping season by October.
The NSW Farmers Association said that while the first stage of the State Government's drought assistance package would provide much-needed relief for the worst-hit farmers, they however felt that more needed to be done once a clearer picture was gained of the situation.
President Mal Peters said the association had secured the Government's commitment to examine additional means of support next month.
"The situation is desperate for many farmers, and we will be doing everything possible to ensure that adequate assistance is extended to a wider area of the state.
Mr Peters said the association would be helping to prepare a progress report for the premier and agriculture minister by the end of next month.
"Almost every farmer in the Boggabri and Wee Waa area is now having to hand feed stock, and almost half of those around Walgett, Guyra and Burren Junction are having to bring in water," he said.
"The NSW Farmers' Association is calling on the Government to consider further options such as interest rate subsidies, and cash rebates for drought mitigation and management strategies.
Many of the farmers in the State's north-west had received loans after being hit by flooding at the end of 2000, and the deferral of repayments now would make a significant difference.
"The provision of low interest loans for some time after the drought breaks would also help farmers get back on their feet," Mr Peters said.
Meanhwile, National Party member for Barwon Ian Slack-Smith said that the drought stricken landholders in his electorate had been cruelly cast aside in the Carr Labor Government's drought package declaration.
Mr Slack-Smith said the landholders in the Rural Lands Protection Board districts of Narrabri, Moree and Coonamble have been hand feeding their stock and carting water for domestic and stock use for the past twenty months.
"I have contacted the Minister for Agriculture, Richard Amery with an urgent message for the Rural Lands Protection Board districts of Narrabri, Moree and Coonamble to be immediately included in the Carr Labor Government's farcical drought declaration package."
"It is an absolute insult to the landholders who are facing ruin to talk of assessing the situation later this year. The assistance is needed immediately," he said.
Mr Slack-Smith said the drought declaration package failed to address stock water cartage, freight for fodder or transport for agistment.
"To encourage producers to send their stock to slaughter is placing our already low livestock numbers in jeopardy."
"With the national stock numbers at an all time low, our overseas customers and processors will be seriously questioning if Australia can supply enough wool for their needs."
"If this happens, they will be forced to use synthetics and this will be another market with its doors closed to Australian agriculture," he said.
"I call on the NSW Government to immediately include the Rural Lands Protection Board districts of Narrabri, Moree and Coonamble for water cartage, freight for fodder and transport for agistment in the drought declaration package," Mr Slack-Smith said.
Premier Carr has since said he expected the criteria would be extended to include Broken Hill, Wanaaring, Cobar, Coonamble, Milparinka and parts of Wilcannia, Kempsey and Coonabarrabran.
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