Live export sheep farmers impacted by the ban are now finding that many losing their total income will not get a cent from the phase-out transition package
According to The Nationals David Littleproud, The Department of Agriculture has received more financial benefit than impacted live sheep farmers as part of Labor’s phase out ‘transition’ package.
Senate Estimates heard live sheep farmers have still not received a cent of support, while the Department has spent $2.43 million towards their own internal costs in phasing out the live sheep industry.
Read how Sheep producers and support industries were left with a $255 million shortfall due to live export losses, and put many at risk of losing their entire income here.
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud agreed the revelations were startling but unfortunately not surprising.
“Impacted farmers are having their livelihoods thrown into turmoil under this Government, but Labor thinks it’s more important to cover the cost of bureaucracy rather than actually deliver some direct support to those who need it the most,” David Littleproud expressed.
“Adding further insult to this shambolic process is that farmers are being forced to compete with one another because Labor has put a cap on assistance grants. Farmers applying for Labor’s Farm Business Transition program assistance grant will be forced to find up to $75,000 of their own money as a co-contribution before Christmas. This ‘grant’ process is insulting and clearly designed to make farmers fail and be unable to meet the terms and conditions.”
While round one of the grants process has now closed, the package comes more than four years since Labor was first elected and said it would ban the industry.
Another grant for supply chain capacity also requires farmers to find up to $2 million as a co-contribution.
According to The Nationals David Littleproud, “Labor is having a lend of farmers if it thinks farmers have a spare $2 million lying around. Labor’s tormenting grants process is cruel and callous and shows the utter contempt Labor has for the live sheep industry.
“Labor knows it is spruiking a grant that impacted farmers can’t actually afford to apply for. Labor knows the live sheep export trade has no future and doesn’t care about our farmers. This is all about Labor buying votes in the inner-city seats, not helping farmers who need it,” David Littleproud concluded.
