Australia Increases Funding For Farmers Willing To Leave The Land - Australian

[hatrack]

STRUGGLING farms will be helped to quit the land and more small businesses will get welfare under a $714 million drought relief plan. Prime Minister John Howard today announced further relaxation of income and asset tests for farmers receiving exceptional circumstances relief – interest rates subsidies and welfare payments - as the worst drought in a century continues to ravage the bush.

Irrigators, particularly those in horticulture facing the loss of permanent plantings, will also get up to $20,000 in assistance and small businesses in towns with less than 10,000 people will also be eligible for new payments. The off-farm asset test for welfare will be doubled and as well the income test. Farm families can earn up to $20,000 without effecting EC money and hold off-farm assets worth between $473,000 and $750,000 without before losing their interest rate subsidies.

The Prime Minister said some farm families were living in “pitiful” conditions and Australian needed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with those on the land.

Mr Howard said allocating $150 million to give $150,000 to farmers who decided they cannot continue allowed those struggling on marginal properties to exit with dignity.

EDIT

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22478876-2702,00.html

[phantom power]

1. I'm glad they're trying to help farmers, but...

doesn't the fact that farmers are having to leave their fucking land suggest that there may be slightly larger problems in their future? Like, not being able to grow food for Australian citizens?