Speechless. Just speechless. R.I.P English Language. PREMIER Campbell Newman has been called on to label Queenslands crippling drought as a natural disaster, allowing access to the real and effective financial aid needed to rescue the states $4 billion beef industry. This is a natural disaster of frightening proportions, member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter said. “Already this drought has been declared one of the worst in history. Struggling farmers are wanting Mr Newman to personally visit their properties to witness first hand the unprecedented impact the drought is having on our producers, and then deliver the real and effective financial and other assistance required. “Everyone is hurting, from the local butcher, to the service station, to the hardware store; the flow-on effect of this crisis is affecting every community, and I call on the Queensland and Federal governments to stop playing with words and deliver real help for real people in real need,” said Mr Katter. “It seems the Queensland Government is content to rely on volunteer groups such as Aussie Helpers, instead of being realistic in helping those who grow the beef on which they feast at their Parliamentary buffets.” At the moment, the only help graziers can receive under the ‘exceptional circumstances’ assistance packages do not meet their critical needs – water and food for stock, and cash to pay bills. “They’re just playing with words labeling it ‘exceptional circumstances’ and not a ‘natural disaster’ when the Government’s own definition of a ‘natural disaster’ includes a drought and its wider impact, Mr Katter said. “A drought meets the same criteria as a fire or a flood because it is categorised as ‘an event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences’, according to an Attorney-General’s report in 2012. “The impact on the physical and mental health of these graziers is unprecedented yet all we get from governments are out-of-reach loans (when graziers are already in debt to an average of $1.2m) and seminars, he said. Mr Katter suggests our struggling farmers should receive a rent and rates freeze, plus heavily subsidised fodder, water, molasses and transport. “The growing number of producers on ‘struggle street’ now can’t even access Centrelink payments to buy groceries as it still remains means tested. “The drought situation here is absolutely dire and people are looking to the State’s leader to deliver a useable and workable rescue package that can save their cattle and their livelihoods. “The financial counsellors put on by the Government are all well and good, but the reassurances sent out by Minister McVeigh on ABC Radio this week to ‘let graziers know they are not alone’, does not pay the bills to keep these huge farms running.” Starting tonight, Higgins Storm Chasing (HSC) on Facebook will kick off a week-long campaign to raise the current issue and awareness to their 200,000+ online followers, in the hope that everyone can offer some support. We are not going to sit back and watch our heart of Australia die a slow and painful death without offering all the support available, Founder of HSC, Jeff Higgins said. Read the everyday statuses, look at the horrific photos and you will only just scratch the dusty surface of what was once prime grassland for the livestock industry. Talk directly to the tough proud farmers, our mates out there on the land and you soon discover the emotional and financial drain that is taking an enormous mental toll, Mr Higgins said. As a rough starting figure, properties are paying up to $20,000 a week to truck in limited available hay from NSW or where ever it can be sourced from. Now on top of this, almost all available water has dried up, Mr Higgins said. When debt limits are reached and banks say no more, that is the final straw. Yet their crushed spirits turn to me and say, one more day without rain is one more day closer to rain. In the flooded Brisbane City, we saw the mud army of 60,000 people. In the bull dust plains out west, help and support is hundreds of kilometers away. There is one organisation out there in the middle of it all busting their guts trying to get to everyone - one organisation that can not do this without our support, Mr Higgins said. That is organisation is Aussie Helpers. Brian and Nerida Egan established Aussie Helpers on 21 May 2002 in an effort to help fight poverty and lift the spirits of those severely affected by drought in the outback. From what they saw around them and what they heard from people in the bush, the couple felt no organisation was doing anything significant to help families suffering the full effects of, what was then classed as, the worst drought in living history. Unlike government funded organisations, Aussie Helpers consists of around 40 unpaid volunteers, raising their own funding, while making a real difference to the lives of real people.disaster by purchasing and donating a bale of hay ($20) for their animals to keep their herds alive and their families going. Families are also needing assistance with groceries, school fees and other basic essentials of living in the tough times. There are is a list of ways you can help. To assist, please visit -
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 08:36:48 +0000
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