And while I was laying there, feeling sorry for myself and generally thinking over all the shitty things that keep happening because of the drought, I also reflected on this: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/aust-govt-drought-response-plan_0.pdf

I'm not sure how many people have actually taken the time to read this document. I'd like to suggest that perhaps not enough of us have, because if we had, I'm fairly sure the Ag Minister would STILL be hearing about it.

And now, because I am in a BAD MOOD I would like to share with you all my thoughts about this document that is supposed to guide the Nation's response to drought for the next 2 years until the next review.

My first thought is that the entire process of developing & enacting this plan is that it is slow.
Like a koala on valium slow.
And the consultation was terrible. Ineffective. Pointless.
Any other adjective for shit that you can think of, that was the consultative process.

And the lack of responsiveness of this plan and the process. Released in 2019 pre-Covid & pre-bushfires - this plan does not reflect any of the issues that currently affect Australia (food security & onshore processing anyone?) & how agriculture might have changed.

This plan also does not acknowledge that all enterprises are not created equal. It is in my opinion a very east coast centric plan, with no thought given to those of us who have grazing enterprises in arid areas, or the horticulturalists or the livestock exporters.

It seems that the opinion of our Government is that every farmer in Australia has a postage stamp sized block that runs a handful of stock (cute fluffy ones please, for the photo ops) and grows a paddock full of some high value grain that looks really nice when green.

Honestly, when the people responsible for this plan have never been west of the Dividing Range what else can we expect? What sort of opinion are they going to form when the closest they get to an agricultural enterprise is glancing out the plane window between Sydney & Canberra?

Our government places no value on locally produced food & fibre, forces us to compete against some of the most subsidised agricultural economies in the world & places any failures squarely back on the individual while all the time claiming our successes as their own!

I might add that this in not a Liberal/Labor thing.
This is ALL governments we've ever had.
Agriculture feels like the underdog determined to succeed against all odds & when we DO make good, the Government likes to hold us up as a shining example of how successful THEY are.

Which is the complete opposite of mining, which is like the golden haired favourite who can do no wrong and even when things go horribly, terribly wrong it is NEVER their fault. Hhere dry your tears on this pile of money. you, poor poor multi billion $ international corporation.

Now, let's address the actual document.
I would like to find the person who wrote this & punch them in the throat.
The arrogance of the writer is just oozing off the page. This was written by someone who has never suffered, never gone without in their entire lives.

"Farming is a business and drought is one of many business risks that should be managed."
As said by someone who has never:
a) been in business
b) been in farming
c) been in drought

I also take umbrage at this:
"Drought is an enduring, regular feature of the Australian landscape. It is not a natural disaster."
1 dry year, fine, easily managed, we can do it.
2 dry years, yep, got it, well prepared.
3 dry years, bit stretched, could use a hand

4 dry years, getting pretty bad now, wish I could get some assistance
5 dry years, HOW THE FUCK IS THIS NOT A NATURAL DISASTER? Everything is dead/dying - native plants & animals included.

Let's compare this to the recent bushfires, the ferocity of which a huge number of scientists attributed to the changing climate.
Fire is also enduring, regular feature of the Australian landscape, many of our plants need it to reproduce, indigenous Australians used it.

It can be mitigated by building better houses, not building in the middle of forests, regularly clearing breaks around communities and infrastructure, paying attention to the weather, oh and you can get insurance for it.
100% natural disaster.

I'm also wondering if the people responsible for the most recent spend have read their own plan?
"Policies and programs should focus on planning and preparation for future droughts and be developed with industry and communities."

"Information (social, economic and environmental) about drought conditions and impacts should be collected and understood at the local level so that governments, communities, businesses and farmers can tailor their preparation, plans and responses."

Let's look at strategy:
"Immediate action for those in drought—focused on measures to support farmers and communities facing prolonged drought conditions to keep them going until the drought breaks."
FYI - just because it rains in NSW does not mean the drought is broken.

There are regions & communities all over Australia that are now entering their 4th or in some cases 5th year of drought, but because they're not within an hours drive of Canberra they are literally out of sight, out of mind. Hell, our state government doesn't even know we exist.

"Support for the wider communities affected by drought—rural and regional communities depend on our farmers and are at the heart of Australia."
Newsflash - if they have no water, they will die. Drought resilience is not only about business plans & diversification - it is water.

"Long-term resilience and preparedness—building resilience and ability to withstand drought periods in the long term."
You know what does that? Infrastructure.

When covid struck, did the Government sit down & do a business plan? No, they immediately invested in the correct infrastructure to help manage the effects - ventilators, sanitiser, masks. (Other assistance measures aside, which probably could have been done better)

"....And the Plan is not just about responding to and preparing for drought—it is about giving our farmers and regional communities hope for the future and building resilience.
Actually, whoever wrote this plan - this plan makes me want to shoot myself.

There is no hope, support or confidence for me in this plan. Now perhaps if I owned an agricultural business planning business I might feel a bit more enthusiastic, but I just grow food for people to eat, so I'm fucked.

"The Australian Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of policies and programs and adjust as necessary to ensure they are providing the level of targeted assistance required."
Oh yay I cannot wait for the next round of "consultation"

Now let's move on to the next section of the "plan" which is basically a run-down of just how generous the Government is & why we shouldn't complain & just shut up & be grateful.

"Rural Financial Counselling Service—the angels at the kitchen table"
Was...was this written by the RFCS?
You know how often I have had these 'angels' at my kitchen table? Never.
Phone call? Nope. Email? Nup.

I'm not saying they don't do good work, but saying that "Rural financial counsellors are the change-makers of the agricultural sector" is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I have read so far. And in a document like this, that's saying something.

You know who the change-makers of the agricultural sector are? Farmers.
You know who turns up, every day, when shit is bad, to do their absolute best? Farmers.
You know who will read this plan, realise they're fucked & kill themselves? Farmers.

And now we get to the RIC.
An idea with so much promise turned to steaming pile of disappointment. THANKS BUREAUCRACY.

And now the only thing that is actually helpful:
Better on-farm water management.
But hey, no more money for that initiative because you greedy farmers spent it all!
Here, water your stock/crop/children with this very important business plan instead.

Making up to 100GL available to secure fodder.
What an absolute waste of money this was. I'm sure the Government of SA thought it was a pretty sweet deal, but holy shit they would have got better bang for their buck if they put the money on the chestnut in the 5th race at Doomben

Dealing with the stresses of drought
Here's a crazy idea.
If this plan wasn't so completely awful & actually gave farmers meaningful assistance & certainty perhaps we wouldn't be so stressed?
Just a thought.

Battling pest and weeds
Shame we can't add inept bureaucrats to the declared pest list. Might solve a lot of problems, especially if they had a bounty on them.

Financial and regulatory frameworks that encourage planning and resilience
Ahh yes. Big words for bullshit ideas.
Let's talk about this one in more detail shall we?
According to the Government they are SO GENEROUS giving all farmers tax breaks, FMD's and the like.

You know what?
These measures only work IF YOU ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY.
Which is pretty nigh on impossible if you don't get any rain/have no access to water/are forced to compete against highly subsidised nations/can't access affordable finance.

But still the Government is like "well, we're giving you SO MUCH HELP why are you still complaining?"
Let's talk about a dirty little secret in the ag industry.
Succession planning or lack of.
In 2018-19, the average farmer was: 58 years of age.

Let's say the retirement age is 66 give or take. The average farmer is 8 years away from retirement. How much superannuation does the average farmer have do you think? (not a lot)
Why? Because they're self employed and putting a set amount into a bank account for the future...

...when there are bills to be paid & animals to be fed today feels pretty irresponsible. Besides, almost all of their wealth is tied up in the land. How are they going to access that? Well, back in the day, the chosen one (usually the eldest son) could buy the farm off Mum & Dad.

Getting finance from Dad's old bank manager was simple - a firm handshake & a promise to keep the farm going. Easy.
In this day & age, it just doesn't work like that.
Perhaps the RIC could help? HA HA no. Have to get a conventional bank to lend you a matching amount first.

And people wonder why farmers keep selling out to international interests? Because we (the next generation) can't afford to buy in. And then there's all the other nonsense - stamp duty, transfer fees all have to be paid.

Most of us have no money & have no opportunity to earn any money. We're here, at home on the farm, working, learning, managing, preparing for the future. We're not getting paid much, because margins are tight & ag-related stuff is expensive, and (at our place) the cows come first

There is so much inequity in this current plan. So much that is completely wrong and so very unhelpful.
And I read it and I am sad, I am angry and I am ashamed.
Because I am a state and national representative for part of the agricultural industry, and this happened on my watch.

I failed my family and I failed all the families like mine.
I failed everyone who lives, works and farms in the remote areas of Australia, but I will not give up, I will not shut up.
I will continue to call out bad policy as I see it.