Crikey reader and farmer Rob Lennon pens another open letter to Agriculture Minister Tony Burke: even with the rain, farms and farmers still need urgent assistance.
Drought assistance
An open letter on behalf of drought-affected farmers
Crikey reader and farmer Ron Lennon pens an open letter to Agriculture Minister Tony Burke: farms and farmers need assistance now.
Rural health: beset by drought and conspicuous compassion
Government drought response efforts have often contributed to rural powerlessness — through the very measures they have deemed to be caring and responsive, writes Dr John Ashfield.
Is it farmers being subsidised – or the water quota system?
The drought assistance announced by the Federal Government this week is more than just bundles of cash aimed at helping out ruralists in need. It’s a reform package by another name, writes Lionel Elmore.
Drought assistance critics need to get some perspective
So much of the comment about farmers shows a serious lack of knowledge and understanding of the economics of agriculture. This on all sides, and nowhere worse than at the NFF and the National Party, writes Ted O’Brien.
A big week on the gravy trains
It’s been an expensive week for the coffers of the Federal Treasury as the PM John Howard warms up for the election campaign proper. That Kevin Rudd is more than just a “me too” man is shown by the enthusiasm with which he, like Mr Howard, hands out the goodies as he travels around the country.
Drought relief debate provokes a flood of response
Yesterday, Crikey criticised John Howard’s $714 million drought relief package. Somehow we managed to p-ss off a lot of people. Here’s a taste of the drought debate deluge from dairy farmers, cheesemakers, citydwellers and cattle farmers that has flooded into Crikey in the past 24 hours.
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
Is it conceivable that a political leader could make a major policy spending announcement, weeks out from a federal election, that was not 100% political?
Why are farmers more important than any other business?
The government can’t make it rain, but the cashed-up Commonwealth can make it rain money. What we really need is more efficient agriculture.
Some country people are more equal than others
What have Australian governments done to assist economic activity in rural and regional Australia? Plenty for white farmers. Not so much for indigenous farmers, writes Geoff Robinson, Deakin University.
