OPINION: If you ever needed a clearer picture of how city-centric governments have become, take a look at this week’s NSW Budget resources.
Agriculture barely rated a mention, let alone shared a slice of the funding pie.
In the ‘NSW Budget 2025–26, Our plan for Regional New South Wales’, guess how many times the word ‘agriculture’ was mentioned in the 48-page document? Just once, on page 7, and that was under the title of the agriculture minister.
Almost 50 pages of content from the government preaching about how it is serving the people of regional NSW, and not one, solid reference to the industry which generates more than $20 billion in gross production value for this state.
We understand there was a $100 million-plus investment for biosecurity and innovation about two weeks ago. There has also been significant funding tipped into disaster relief after recent flood events – although listen to those farmers on the coast still suffering and you’ll hear the money provided will barely touch the sides.
There is also infrastructure funding allocated to regional development but it’s not clear how this will be distributed across the state and which projects would benefit. But most of the time, the powers that be don’t want to know about it. As one bloke said recently, governments take the agricultural sector for granted.
They are happy to have the hand out when it comes to taxing the daylight from farmers and the battler working three jobs, but when the boot is on the other foot, well … you know the story.
To order photos from this page click here
