Free baits and financial assistance is being offered in a new $50 million package announced by the NSW government today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The backflip on funding support, comes a day after Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said "no amount of money could ever wipe out the mice impacting farmers in parts of the state."
This was in response to NSW Farmers and Country Women's Association calling on the government implement a financial support package, providing up to $25,000 per farm business to subsidise 50 per cent of the cost of bait products.
Today Mr Marshall said: "free bait is better than any rebate for our farmers, who we continue to stand behind post drought, bushfires and floods."
Primary producers can access free baiting, through free-of-charge grain treatment, while affected rural and town households and small businesses would be able to apply for rebates to help them meet the cost of purchasing mouse baits.
READ MORE:
Under this package households will be able to apply for rebates of up to $500 and small businesses will be eligible to claim up to $1000 through Service NSW.
The government will also be forming an advisory committee to ensure everyone has access to expert advice, including the latest hot spots, health and food safety advice, information for vets and guidance for keeping children and animals safe.
A snapshot of the package
- $500 rebates for eligible households
- $1,000 rebates for eligible small businesses
- Free mice bait (grain treatment) for farmers
"We know the financial pressure this mice plague is putting on farmers and household budgets, we have heard the concerns of regional NSW and we are acting on it," Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.
Mr Marshall said farmers would be able to have their grain treated free of charge to protect their hard-sown crops from vermin.
"Today's announcement of free baits to treat grain almost completely removes the cost burden on our farmers and croppers and complements our popular workshops to arm farmers with the tools needed to build a mice-free fortress to protect their paddocks," Mr Marshall said.
"I've seen first-hand the impact these rodents are having. They are a scourge on our agricultural production so we are giving landholders a fearsome suite of tools to manage mice.
"We're making this as easy for farmers as we possibly can. No tedious rebate forms to fill out, just bring your grain to have the experts treat it free of charge."
In addition to free grain treatment and expert workshops, the NSW Department of Primary Industries will also launch a body of research to identify and potentially develop future tools to combat mice plagues, including biological controls.
The NSW Government has also sought urgent approval from the Commonwealth's APVMA for the use of bromadiolone in NSW
The advisory committee will include representatives from the Department of Regional NSW, Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries, Resilience NSW, NSW Health, Service NSW, NSW Food Authority, Office of Small Business Commissioner, the Office of Local Government and the CSIRO.
For the latest information about the mice plague, including information about eligibility, how rebates will be claimed as well as health advice, go to www.nsw.gov.au.
