· Massively increased power bills add to dairy farmers’ pain

· Many will not be able to pay these huge bills

· Government still withholding practical assistance for farmers that was needed weeks ago

· Has the State Government even applied for natural disaster relief assistance from Canberra?

Embattled dairy farmers have started receiving power bills that have increased 15% since July this year, following a 20% rise in 2008.

This is just compounding the financial stress of a 45% drop in the price they receive for their milk, reduced production because of atrocious seasonal conditions, and now on top of it all, power outages that have left many unable to milk their cows.

Dairying is an energy intensive business. The bills these farmers are receiving are huge. Many quite simply will not be able to pay.

I have today again pressed the State Government to act swiftly to provide the urgent practical assistance that dairy farmers needed weeks ago. It would be unconscionable for the Premier to hold off on the provision of support until next Tuesday’s rally in Devonport, where the timing might better suit him.

Farmers need direct financial help, such as subsidies or loans to help feed their stock, and other assistance, such as for animal welfare and counselling.

The State Government must also seek natural disaster relief funding for farmers. I got no answer to my question in Parliament today about whether the government had even applied for such assistance.

Massively increased power bills are just going to increase the pain for dairy farmers. I again call on the government to move immediately to provide assistance to these people who are in huge distress.

The broader problem is the milk price, of that there can be no doubt. But a helping hand from government to get farmers through this difficult time was needed weeks ago and it is deeply concerning that it still hasn’t materialised.

Some farmers will simply not survive in business for the medium to long term if direct financial assistance in the short term is not addressed.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Deputy Leader of the State Opposition