'This is a natural disaster': Drought-stricken farmer's impassioned plea to PM
A farmer has posted an impassioned plea to Malcolm Turnbull for help as 100 per cent of New South Wales is declared to be in drought.
Farmer Gus Greenaway, 27, lives and works on the land in Rowena, New South Wales, and has experienced the crippling drought first hand.
“Mr Turnbull, if you have to see this video, my offer still stands. Get out here, have a look for yourself, see it with your own two eyes,” Mr Greenaway said in a video posted to Facebook.
“I just think the Australian people are starting to realise, and are believing that you’re just not in touch with rural Australia.
“I really think this should be classified as a natural disaster.”
Mr Greenaway spoke about the Federal Government’s recent $190 million drought relief package, which will give farmers payments of $12,000, in two $6000 lump sums to be paid in September and March next year.
“I think I’m speaking for 99 per cent of farmers when I say this, I know that’s not going to go towards putting food on people’s tables,” he said.
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“Australian farmers are extremely proud people, resilient, they’re very proud of the product they produce.
“I can probably tell you that money’s going to go towards buying feed for stock.
“They look after their stock better than they look after themselves, that’s a fact. I can tell you that first hand.”
In spite of the challenges he faces, Mr Greenaway said he was working on a program to raise awareness about farming and drought in schools and remains optimistic that things will start to improve.
“It’s hard to not get angry about it and not get emotional about it, but it’s definitely extremely frustrating,” he said.
“We’ve still got a long road ahead of us. But we’re Aussies, we’re tough and we’ll battle on, that’s what we do.”
