Minister discusses drought application with Nullarbor farmers

Western Australia's Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance will visit remote Arubiddy Station on the Nullarbor this weekend for a first-hand look at the challenges faced by drought-affected pastoralists.

Mr Chance said he wanted to see the climatic conditions on the Nullarbor, and have the opportunity to meet with the pastoral owners.

The Minister said he was advised by the Department of Agriculture and Food that at first analysis, the six pastoralists were unlikely to be able to qualify for an Exceptional Circumstances declaration unless conditions deteriorated further over the next 12 months.

"In July this year, I wrote to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, outlining the Nullarbor situation and seeking his view of the potential for an EC declaration of the area," Mr Chance said.

"He agreed that conditions faced by some pastoralists in the Nullarbor region were indeed difficult. However, he reiterated that the criteria agreed to by State and Territory Governments must be satisfied to declare a region eligible for Exceptional Circumstances assistance."

Mr Chance noted that under the EC scheme, even if the area was declared, individual enterprises would still have to qualify.

"I appreciate that the Nullarbor region has experienced a run of very poor and dry seasons, and that the rainfall over the last three months is close to the lowest on record," he said.

"I want the opportunity this weekend to meet with the pastoralists and ensure that the Western Australian Government has explored all appropriate options."

In July 2006, Mr Chance announced an $80,000 drought assistance package for Nullarbor pastoralists who did not qualify for the July 2003 Exceptional Circumstances declaration to reimburse their pastoral lease rents and agriculture protection rates expenditure for both the previous financial year and the current financial year.

As well, the six pastoralists were eligible to apply for a grant as part of the $5.3million 2006 Dry Season Assistance Scheme announced in August this year.