LNP Drought Policy, or lack there of.

An enormous part of Australia is currently in drought. An area which includes: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and what is the latest LNP reaction? 

To take money from the NDIS for future droughts. Yes, that’s right. To take support money from those in society, who need it most. Standard Liberal Party / National Party policy really. The LNP are claiming NDIS is now being funded from other source - But which sources?

The only reason Government should get involved in drought assistance is for the greater public good.

The imperatives of Govt. getting involved in drought assistance need to be:

1. Assisting farmers (and industries) to maintain perennial plantings.

2. Preserve the breeding stock, of livestock.

3. Protect the environment.

4. Prevent 1000’s of farmers ‘walking the streets’ because they’ve gone broke, but then this is part of the reason society provides general welfare to it’s population. A point lost on the conservative politicians of this nation.

What the LNP are failing to grasp, is that you don’t write drought policy in the middle of a drought! Just as one should never go to the supermarket when hungry…

LNP Drought Policy 2018.

So, here’s a hint for Australia’s politicians. If they are serious about assisting farmers. 

Let farmers do some of their own drought preparation from profits during the ‘good times’. Quite simply by providing tax concessions for this purpose. Concessions such as accelerated depreciation on equipment such as irrigation. The greatest issue here will be farmers on the margin, who may never make enough profit to do this before the next drought. Traditionally those farmers who have survived best in drought have been those with other sources of income.

The current drought through southeastern Australia has also cost Tasmanian farmers. Let me explain.

Whilst parts of Tasmania have had a perfectly normal / average rainfall season, the mainland drought has reduced live stock sale value over the last six months.

Why? Because the drought is causing excess live stock to come onto the market, thereby flooding the market. This in turn pushes farmers who have live stock going to market as part of their normal sales / income cycle, to sell into an already flooded market. Farmers, such as those in Tasmania, are forced to do so, or risk becoming overstocked and without cash flow themselves.

Perhaps the real secret to surviving drought is not to rely on agriculture as the sole source of income. Particularly in a nation with a Government, which, not only refuses to accept Climate Change Science, but also is actively working contrary to that advice!

The only conclusion one can read into the situation, which, Australia now finds itself in; being that the entire LNP coalition need to go back to High School and let this year's TCE / VCE / HSC / IB etc. students run the nation… 

..... and this drought is only just getting started. The further we get into summer, the greater this drought is going to be.....