In the wake of the Mercury's story on Monday, which was critical of Labor's lack of drought relief promises for farmers, the party has reacted with a 10-point list of drought policies.
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Drought is now front and centre of Labor's bid to win government this weekend and they're promising to match some of the Liberals and Nationals election commitments.
So much so that the Liberals and Nationals have accused them of pinching their drought policies.
There is no doubt that drought is now a front line issue along with stadiums, hospitals and schools.
Opposition spokesman for primary industries Mick Veitch said the 10-point list, released on Monday afternoon, had either been "through the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) because they are an election commitment of ours ... or they're matching a government commitment."
He said promises made by the Liberals and Nationals, which Labor would match, had not been put through the PBO and it was up to the government to cost those plans. He confirmed Labor was "very confident" it could fund all of its promises.
But NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said Labor's 10-point plan was full of costing holes.
He said it was a legislative requirement that every election promise had to be put through the PBO for costing. If it was not it did not exist.
Read more: With drought such a big issue in the Hunter, and across NSW, the Mercury looked at some of the farming-related policies the Coalition and Labor have put forward and how they will be paid for. Click here to view the report.
Mr Blair said the PBO's Budget Impact Statement showed Labor's promise to match the government's $350 million top up of the Farm Innovation Fund, waive western lands leaseholder rates and spend $37.5 million to extend the wild dog fence had not been costed.
He also said Labor's $1 billion water plan only had $500 million allocated and Mr Veitch publicly revealed on Monday that amount was on top of the government's promised $1.4 billion injection.
Mr Blair said Labor's plan to put $32.5 million into Landcare, $11.25 million into biosecurity and waive Local Land Service (LLS) rates had also not been costed.
Mr Blair said the Liberals and Nationals had costed all of their promises through the PBO.
"Even though Labor says yes we match it, they still have to put it into the parliamentary budget office," Mr Blair said.
"They can't just say oh yes we will do it. Unless you put them into the Parliamentary Budget Office they don't exist. What that means is our farmers are left high and dry when it comes to Labor and their drought commitments."
When the Mercury asked Mr Veitch about Labor's plan to waive LLS rates he said that was matching the government's commitment. The Mercury pointed out that the government had not made that promise.
"I'm in an election process now. If I say that, that becomes an unfunded commitment and could place me in serious trouble," Mr Veitch responded.
Opinion: what we said