This week the NSW Parliamentary Budget Office released election policy costings and a budget impact statement for the two major parties.
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With drought such a big issue in the Hunter, and across NSW, we looked at some of the farming-related policies the Coalition and Labor have put forward and how they will be paid for.
Click on the highlighted text to view the costing and additional policy details from the NSW Parliamentary Budget Office.ā
BIOSECURITY
Coalition: The party hasn't made an election commitment. During its term it focused on reforming biosecurity legislation and getting the policy settings right. Local Land Services have created plans for biosecurity and now pest and weed approaches are dealt with at a local level.
Labor:
$11.25 million will be spent on more resources for frontline biosecurity officers to protect the NSW primary industries sector and environment. This will be funded out of the $345 million Community Catch Up Fund.
DAIRY INDUSTRY:
Coalition:
$2.7 million will be spent on a Dairy Action Plan. This includes appointing a fresh milk and dairy advocate, who would set up and co-ordinate a fresh milk crisis taskforce with industry and government to identify immediate and necessary actions for the sector. A Dairy Business Advisory Unit would also be created within the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the government would work with industry to create a marketing campaign urging shoppers to buy local fresh milk. An overseas campaign targeting buyers using the NSW Trade office network would also be developed.
Labor:
$1.15 million will be spent to appoint a dairy and fresh food pricing advocate and establish a dedicated unit that would look at contracts and prices within the dairy and fresh food supply chain. The advocate would also identify market abuse and unfair contractual arrangements within other primary industries pursuits.
The advocate would work on a range of measures raised during parliamentary inquiries including looking at ways to provide better access to the Farm Innovation Fund and working with universities to uncover research and collaboration avenues.
FARM INNOVATION FUND
The Farm Innovation Fund provides long-term low interest loans for permanent on-farm infrastructure. It seeks to help farmers drought-proof their properties by investing in infrastructure that improves farm productivity, assists farmers to manage seasonal conditions and helps to ensure long-term sustainability.
Coalition:
$350 million will be added to the Farm Innovation Fund. It will be allocated at $87.5 million per year over four years. The eligibility criteria will be expanded to include water sensors and commercial fishing equipment.
Labor:
The party will match the government's election promise to add $350 million to the Farm Innovation Fund. Shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said this would be funded from existing resources, as the coalition will do.
LANDCARE
Coalition:
$16.6 million will be put toward a Local Land Services partnership with Landcare communities to conserve the natural environment and resources.
Labor:
$32.5 million will be directed towards 3000 Landcare, Bushcare and Rivercare groups across the state. Shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said the money would come out of the $345 million Community Catch Up Fund.
LOCAL LAND SERVICE RATES
Farmers are required to pay Local Land Services rates annually.
Coalition:
The party has not made an election promise to waive Local Land Service rates. It committed to waiving them as part of the drought package it announced in August 2019 and spent $50 million waiving rates when the annual payment was due in January 2019.
Labor:
The party will waive Local Land Service rates for all farmers. NSW shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said the money for this was already in the budget. The Mercury has been unable to confirm this.
MENTAL HEALTH
Coalition: There is no election commitment. $6.3 million for mental health support was announced as part of the party's drought package in August 2018. Funding was given for 19 mental health workers to assist in drought-stricken regions. Five of those workers were coordinators across the state and the other 14 were farm-gate counsellors.
Labor: The party will continue to support existing health and hospital mental health programs and has announced additional measures. This includes training and employing 50 mental health outreach workers in regional NSW to support communities battling drought, and $3 million for Telehealth.
Shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said the money to pay for the 50 mental health workers would be funded through the Boost to Health Workforce and the Support for Not-for-profit Health Groups policy costings. The Telehealth plan will be paid for through the Community Catch Up Fund.
WAIVING RENT
Coalition:
Western land leaseholders rent would be waived next financial year. There are almost 1700 leaseholders that would benefit from this measure. The party said the money for this was already in the budget.
Labor:
The party will match the government's commitment. Shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said the money for this was already in the budget.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Coalition:
$1.4 billion will be spent on water security projects, especially in regional communities. That is on top of the $1 billion committed to providing regional communities with safe, affordable and high quality water under the Safe and Secure Water Program.
Labor:
$1 billion will be spent through a Safe Water Safe Future fund to improve water security and quality in regional communities. Shadow treasurer Ryan Park said this would be funded through the regional jobs fund and money that was already in the budget.
WEEDS
Coalition:
There has been no election commitment made. The party has spent $95 million on this issue over the past four years.
Labor:
$50 million will be spent on a war on weeds and pests to help public land management agencies manage weeds and pests. An Independent Weeds Committee will also be created.
WILD DOG FENCE
Coalition:
$37.5 million will be spent on a 742 kilometre extension of the wild dog exclusion fence to stop wild dogs entering the state. This will more than double its length along the western and northern boarders of NSW.
Labor:
The party will match the government's commitment, including the timeline for the project. Shadow treasurer Ryan Park's office said it would be paid for through the Community Catch Up Fund.
A MESSAGE TO FARMERS BATTLING DROUGHT
Coalition: NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair
"We'll continue to stand by our farmers. We've been there at the ready, we know it's tough, we've provided relief on Local Land Service rates, fixed water charges, vehicle registrations, extra mental health workers, we have given concessional relief on farm vehicles and we'll continue to provide support.
"As a state $1.5 billion has now been directed towards drought and that's something that is unprecedented and we will continue to stand up for farmers and stand shoulder to shoulder with them. When you add on the other things we're doing in relation to water there is a lot of money going into our communities."
Labor: Opposition spokesman for primary industries Mick Veitch
"I'm thinking of them. I've lived through a few droughts myself both as a shearer and as growing up on the farm, so I have an appreciation for what people are going through. People should not be scared or afraid to reach out to services that are available right now if they need them. They should be doing that, don't wait.
"People should be keeping an eye on their neighbours as well, just to make sure that everything is okay. They're a resilient bunch on the land and it will rain one day, so let's all just hang in there and keep an eye on everyone."