A plea from Nationals agriculture spokesman John Cobb for a personal intervention by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to aid drought-stricken rural communities has fallen on deaf ears.
Mr Cobb this week wrote to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calling for "personal intervention" to ensure the "mental, social and economic well-being of regional communities in Australia".
But a spokesman for the Prime Minister argues existing government assistance and plans to reforms drought assistance "will see less farmers reach crisis point" .
The spokesman would not comment on whether Mr Rudd would accept the offer to visit the affected regions.
Mr Cobb's letter is based on fears of severe crop losses in Australia's eastern states and dire water allocations in many parts of the Murray-Darling Basin, and he wrote of his concerns for the mental health of his own constituents in central west NSW.
"It is with a great deal of regret that I write to you to inform you that we are facing another winter crop disaster in much of Central, Southern and Western NSW, with parts of Queensland and Victoria also facing severe crop losses," Mr Cobb's letter says.
Mr Cobb said there was a real and urgent need is for immediate support from the Government, particularly for regions which have been taken out of exceptional circumstances prematurely.
However, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said the Government continues to provide a range of services to help ease the pressure of the prolonged drought on families and communities.
"This year the Government has allocated about $900 million for Exceptional Circumstances support including support with household living expenses and interest rate subsidies to help farmers pay their loans," Mr Rudd's spokesman said.
"We have maintained the same system of providing support used by the previous government, including reappointing the same members of the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) which provides independent advice on Exceptional Circumstances drought declarations.
"There is no doubt that southern and western NSW have experienced prolonged drought, and eligible farmers in those areas have access to Exceptional Circumstances support for their families and their businesses."
The spokesman said the Government has made it clear that it will continue to provide EC support to farmers who are currently in drought, but it is also working on a future drought policy which would deliver better outcomes to farmers "by removing the system of lines on maps".
"We don’t want to wait until people are in crisis to step in and help," the spokesman said.
"We want a new policy which helps farmers when times are good and encourages them to adjust to the challenges of the future, including climate change.
"This will see less farmers reach crisis point."
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