Matthew Franklin & Greg Roberts; 24/10/08; (2 Items)
An expert panel has urged an end to no-strings drought aid, arguing farmers should have a responsibility to attempt to drought-proof their properties before they quality for future taxpayer-funded assistance. If the Rudd Government takes up the proposal, it will be the first time specific action will be required from farmers in return for receiving public assistance, extending the same mutual obligation principle faced by recipients of unemployment benefits, who are required to attempt to seek work. The panel, investigating the social effects of drought, has urged the Government to give farmers positive incentives to adjust to climate change, rather than just doling out relief under its exceptional-circumstances program in times of crisis.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24543889-5013404,00.html
Farmers told to harden up
Tim Colebatch; 24/10/08
Droughts are an inevitable part of farming in Australia, and farmers need to become self-reliant and plan for them rather than relying on emergency aid, a hard-hitting report to the Federal Government has urged. The report, It’s About People: changing perspectives on dryness, tells of widespread heartbreak in the bush as the long drought eats into families’ incomes, their mental and emotional resilience, and their ability to be part of community life. But rather than urging more handouts, a panel chaired by Queensland farm leader Peter Kenny, puts a case that policy should focus on helping farmers to prepare themselves for drought, and develop a culture of self-reliance.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/national/farmers-told-to-harden-up-20081023-57gu.html
Tags: Australia, Environment, Trade