Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal MP for Kennedy, Bob Katter lavished praise upon the Mareeba Tablelands Rural Action Council (RAC), as the “driving forces” for the “farming family income support” concept.

Yesterday, the Federal Government passed the Farm Household Allowance Bill 2014, which essentially provides for income support for farmers and their partners in hardship without the need for a climatic trigger.

The income support payment provides a deficiency payment to make up for the shortfall where any family’s income falls below the ‘poverty line’ – the essentials (e.g. food, clothing, accommodation, petrol).

The Mareeba Rural Action Council must be publicly recognised and by way of thanks we must recognise them.

• Johnny Gambino
• Bernie O’Shea
• Maxi Srhoj
• Ned Brischetto
• Vince Mete
• John Myrteza
• Eddy Bernabei (dec.)
• Peter Henderson
• Evan McGrath
• Joe Moro
• Lidio Nicolosi
• Scott Dixon

“Every farmer in this nation now has a safety net, undoubtedly a very poor one; nevertheless there is now a safety net.

“No other group in Australia had ever mentioned this proposal. It was the most radical of ideas.

“We were quite taken aback but also deeply appreciative that Treasurer Swan and his ALP government put it in the 2013 budget,” Mr Katter said.

“When farmers have banks cut off their flow of money they have no way to even buy food or the necessities of life. Banks sell them up and in most cases they will walk off their farms with less than nothing.

“While the ALP government legislation was not to come into effect until June of this year, we praise the LNP Government who has brought it forward and made some improvements.

“However small the RAC’s success in this matter; this is now a major and significant breakthrough, which the Government’s claim will rescue over the next 2-3 years some 1000 Australian farm families.

“The Rural Action Council’s resilience and ‘tiger’ example should hearten every one of us – ‘That we are Australians’,” said Mr Katter.