13/06/2025

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan has joined Member for Oxley Michael Kemp, Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson and Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer in calls for both the Federal and State Governments to urgently amend the Category C & D funding for small businesses and primary producers to the maximum thresholds of $50,000 for small businesses and $75,000 for primary producers.

“The current $25,000 threshold simply isn’t enough and flies in the face of the devastation that both the State and Federal Ministers and their teams personally witnessed during their time in our region. We are looking at generational farmers and businesses who simply will not survive without this assistance, and who have been meaningfully contributing to our local economies for decades. If this was happening in a metro area, you know that this process would not be taking this long. I ask the Ministers, how much more do you need to see? The time for conjecture is well and truly over, our communities need help and we need it now,” Mr Conaghan said.

Federal Member for Lyne Alison Penfold called out the disparity between how her community is being treated when compared to other similar events in recent years.

“During the 2021 floods, the maximum thresholds were given swiftly by the Governments of the day at both a state and federal level to the areas worst affected. They were not subjected to this level of delay or superfluous administrative burden. This uncertainty is nothing short of cruel and illustrates the lack of care and understanding by the current Governments towards regional communities,” Ms Penfold said.

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp expressed his frustration with the current processes and their disregard of what local business and primary producers are undertaking in the flood’s aftermath.

“While I appreciate that checks and balances are required, the statement by the NSW Minister for Recovery yesterday that there hadn’t been enough evidence presented to trigger the increase is unbelievable, particularly when Lismore in her own electorate was treated differently. Our farmers and small business owners are cleaning up after the devastation and attempting to salvage what they can. They aren’t focussed on yet another set of Governmental forms on yet another website justifying their need. Surely that is what the visits were for and what the application process should cover? No farmers, no food. Treat them with the respect that deserves.” Mr Kemp said.

Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson expressed her disbelief in the process to date.

“The devastation in communities throughout the Manning region is at a level that we simply have not seen in living memory. How can this Government possibly rationalise its hesitancy to pull the trigger on the full funding under those circumstances? Frankly, we need more than the maximum thresholds to be applied in some areas, but we are currently just asking for what others have received in similar events. Why don’t our communities matter to this Government?” Ms Thomson said.

Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer noted that all levels of Government had represented the needs of their communities yet calls remained unanswered.

“We have all met with individuals, businesses, farmers and local council representatives alongside the Recovery and Disaster Management Ministerial teams in the past few weeks. Every local representative has advocated to the Ministers on behalf of their communities and as State Members we have been knocking on the doors in Parliament to see this achieved. But we still have not had the assurances we so desperately need, despite the platitudes. Enough is enough. Our businesses and primary producers need certainty and action today, not platitudes.” Mr Dwyer stated.