Natural disaster support for Tasmania’s dairy farmers

The dire situation facing dairy farmers as a result of lengthy power outages around Tasmania rural areas must be addressed through State and Federal Government natural disaster assistance.

Many dairy farmers without power have been forced to hire generators to milk their herds, to operate milk storage vats and to power water pumps.

Farmers unable to access generators are losing thousands of litres of milk and all of the income from that milk – even at the current low prices being offered to farmers, this means they are forgoing additional income they just can’t afford to lose.

Senator for Tasmania and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Richard Colbeck called on the State and Federal Governments to provide natural disaster financial assistance to affected farmers.

“Some dairy farmers will be without power for several days, placing extra costs and extra stress on an industry already under enormous pressures,” Senator Colbeck said.

“The severe wet and windy weather which caused these power outages is beyond the control of the dairy farmers and they should not be punished financially for it. Aurora Energy has already ruled out any form of compensation.

“The Federal Government’s Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDDRA) may be used as a guide to provide affected dairy farmers with financial help to offset the costs of these power outages.”

NDRRA specifically caters for, among other things:

“purchase or hire/lease costs for equipment essential to the immediate resumption of farming following a natural disaster.”

“I have written today to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett asking for immediate consideration of natural disaster assistance,” Senator Colbeck said. (see letter below)

Senator Colbeck said the lengthy power outages were yet another major blow to the Tasmanian dairy industry.

In recent weeks, dairy farmers have been hit with below-cost-of-production milk prices, flooding rains and now lengthy power outages.

“The dairy industry is under serious threat in Tasmania. It is incumbent on all levels of government as well as industry organisations to support the farmers, their families and local communities.”

Download: colbeck300909_Colbeck_letter_to_Prime_Minister.pdf
Senator Richard Colbeck Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry