25 February 2010
DAFF10/385B

The Rudd Government has accepted independent advice on whether to further extend Exceptional Circumstances assistance in 34 areas of NSW, South Australia and Victoria.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the independent National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) had reviewed the areas, which are due to expire on 31 March 2010.

Under the current system NRAC considers whether seasonal conditions have allowed the majority of producers to return to typical farm management practices.

The committee recommended Exceptional Circumstances assistance be extended for two-thirds of the areas and found it should not be extended for one-third of the areas.

Mr Burke said many farmers continued to face difficult conditions across Australia.

“The Government recognises that the drought continues to place extraordinary pressure on many farming families across Australia,” Mr Burke said.

“We also acknowledge the current system is not working for farmers and are working to finalise details of the new drought support system.

“Under the current system, we wait until farmers are in crisis to step in and help them.

“We want to help farmers before the next crisis hits so they can better face the challenges of the future.”

NRAC’s recommendations on the 34 EC declared areas are attached and can also be found at www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/ec.

National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) review of 34 EC declared areas

 The Government has accepted NRAC’s advice to extend EC assistance in the following areas:

NSW – extended to 31 March 2011

• Braidwood area (including towns of Araluen, Boro, Braidwood, Bungendore, Captains Flat, Hoskinstown, Majors Creek and Reidsdale)
• Condobolin area (including towns of Albert, Derriwong, Fifield and Tottenham)
• Condobolin-Narrandera area (including towns of Burcher, Lake Cargelligo, Naradhan, Rankins Springs, Ungarie and West Wyalong)
• Dubbo Revised area (including towns of Fairview and Wyanga)
• Forbes area (including towns of Bedgerebong, Bogan Gate, Bumbaldry, Caragabal, Forbes, Greenethorpe, Grenfell, Nelungaloo, Parkes, Trundle and Yarrabandai)
• Goulburn-Yass area (including towns of Crookwell, Goulburn, Murrumbateman, Taralga and Yass)
• Gundagai area (including towns of Adelong, Batlow, Brungle, Cabramurra, Gilmore, Gocup, Mount Horeb, Tumblong, Tumut and Yarrangobilly)
• Hay area (including towns of Carrathool, Goolgowi, Hay and Maude)
• Majority Western Division area (including towns of Broken Hill, Cobar,  Ivanhoe, Menindee, Tibooburra, White Cliffs and Wilcannia)
• Molong Revised area (including towns of Alectown, Mickibri and Yethera)
• Nyngan Revised area (including towns of Bobadah, Buddabadah, Girilambone, Hermidale and Mullengudgery)
• Riverina area (including towns of Barham, Deniliquin, Finley, Jerilderie, Oaklands, Tocumwal, Wakool and Wanganella)
• South West Slopes and Plains area (including towns of Coolamon, Cootamundra, Culcairn, Griffith, Henty, Junee, Leeton, Narrandera, Temora, The Rock and Wagga Wagga)
• Young area (including towns of Barmedman, Boorowa, Harden, Koorawatha, Murrumburrah and Young)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – extended to 31 March 2011

• Murray-Mallee area (including towns of Alawoona, Karoonda, Lameroo, Peebinga, Pinnaroo)
• River Murray and Lower Lakes Corridor area (including towns of Berri, Loxton, Mannum, Meningie, Morgan, Murray Bridge, Renmark and Swan Reach)

VICTORIA – extended to 31 March 2011

• Central Victoria North Revised area (including towns of Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough)
• Central Victoria South Revised area (including towns of Bacchus Marsh, Daylesford, Geelong, Kyneton, Sunbury and Whittlesea)
• Mallee-Northern Wimmera Revised area (includes towns of Birchip, Meringur, Murrayville, Nhill, Ouyen, Rainbow, Warracknabeal and Wycheproof)
• North-East Victoria area (includes towns of Beechworth, Benalla, Corryong, Kilmore, Mansfield, Rutherglen, Seymour and Wangaratta)
• Northern Victoria Revised area (including towns of Kerang, Kyabram, Rochester, Rushworth, Shepparton, Stanhope and Tatura)

The Government has accepted NRAC’s advice that conditions have improved and EC assistance should not be extended in the following areas:

NSW – assistance will not be extended past 31 March 2010

• Hume area (including towns of Khancoban and Tumbarumba)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – assistance will not be extended past 31 March 2010

• Central and Eastern Mount Lofty area (including towns of Balhannah, Birdwood, Gumeracha, Lobethal, Oakbank, Summertown, Uraidla and Woodside)
• Central Eyre Peninsula area (including towns of Cleve, Cowell, Elliston, Kimba, Lock and Wudinna)
• Clare, Light and Barossa area (including towns of Angaston, Auburn, Clare, Freeling Greenock,  Kapunda, Mount Pleasant, Nuriootpa, Riverton, Tanunda and Williamstown)
• Fleurieu Peninsula area (including towns of Carrickalinga, Meadows, Mount Barker, Mount Compass, Normanville, Port Elliot and Victor Harbour)
• Kangaroo Island area (including towns of American River, Kingscote, Parndana and Penneshaw)
• Lower Eyre Peninsula area (including towns of Coffin Bay, Coulta, Cummins, Edillilie, Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay, Warrow and Yeelanna)
• Mid-North area (including towns of Balaklava, Burra, Crystal Brook, Gladstone, Jamestown, Kadina, Port Pirie, Robertstown and Spalding)
• Upper North District including Annex area (including towns of Appila, Eurelia, Hammond, Orroroo, Peterborough and Quorn)
• Upper South East area (including towns of Bordertown, Coonalpyn, Keith, Kingston, Naracoorte, Padthaway and Tintinara)
• Western Eyre Peninsula area (including towns of Bookabie, Ceduna, Penong, Streaky Bay and Wirrulla)
• Yorke Peninsula area (including towns of Ardrossan, Edithburgh, Maitland, Minlaton, Port Vincent, Price, Stansbury, Warooka, Weaver, Wool Bay and Yorketown)

VICTORIA – assistance will not be extended past 31 March 2010

• South Western Victoria area (includes towns of Ararat, Balmoral, Colac, Coleraine, Goroke, Hamilton, Lake Bolac, Portland, Stawell and Warrnambool)