Sykes: Drought funding welcome but more needed
The State Government $100 million drought assistance package has been welcomed by Bill Sykes, National MP Benalla but Dr Sykes says that more is required.
Dr Sykes and The Nationals along with farming organisations, health care services and local councils have been calling for additional drought assistance measures for several months.
Most recently Dr Sykes made an impassioned plea in Parliament highlighting the high incidence of drought related suicides and calling for the State Government to ease the pressure by increasing drought assistance measures and abandoning plans to decommission Lake Mokoan and the North South Pipeline and rejecting the VEAC draft report on River Red Gum Forests.
Dr Sykes said, “The Government’s $1,000 towards water bills for all irrigators receiving less than 40% allocation by 1 December, will be appreciated as will the 50% rebate on the balance above $1,000. That said this is really only general taxpayer’s funds being used to reimburse Government water authorities operating costs.
“Grants for $3,000 for property infrastructure upgrades including water piping systems and stock containment areas will also be welcome.
“But, in the words of the Government, more needs to be done.
“In particular, funding for the small town development fund should be increased from $5 million to at least $25 million. This would help restore confidence and help provide much needed employment opportunities.
“It is also important that the assistance measures to help businesses retain apprentices are not restricted to businesses with three or more eligible apprentices as has been the case with other State Government assistance. Many small businesses only have one or two apprentices and it is important that they are eligible for this assistance.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “As is so often the case, the ‘devil is in the detail’ so we will look closely at the assistance measures over the next few days to ensure that as many deserving people as possible benefit from the State Government Drought Assistance measures.”
Dr Sykes and The Nationals along with farming organisations, health care services and local councils have been calling for additional drought assistance measures for several months.
Most recently Dr Sykes made an impassioned plea in Parliament highlighting the high incidence of drought related suicides and calling for the State Government to ease the pressure by increasing drought assistance measures and abandoning plans to decommission Lake Mokoan and the North South Pipeline and rejecting the VEAC draft report on River Red Gum Forests.
Dr Sykes said, “The Government’s $1,000 towards water bills for all irrigators receiving less than 40% allocation by 1 December, will be appreciated as will the 50% rebate on the balance above $1,000. That said this is really only general taxpayer’s funds being used to reimburse Government water authorities operating costs.
“Grants for $3,000 for property infrastructure upgrades including water piping systems and stock containment areas will also be welcome.
“But, in the words of the Government, more needs to be done.
“In particular, funding for the small town development fund should be increased from $5 million to at least $25 million. This would help restore confidence and help provide much needed employment opportunities.
“It is also important that the assistance measures to help businesses retain apprentices are not restricted to businesses with three or more eligible apprentices as has been the case with other State Government assistance. Many small businesses only have one or two apprentices and it is important that they are eligible for this assistance.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “As is so often the case, the ‘devil is in the detail’ so we will look closely at the assistance measures over the next few days to ensure that as many deserving people as possible benefit from the State Government Drought Assistance measures.”
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posted by Greg Naylor at
6:56 PM
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