Having heard first-hand from our country solicitors about the impact the drought is having on farmers and rural communities across the entire state, I was happy to hear that drought-ravaged areas of western NSW experienced some much-needed rain over the weekend. As it’s been widely reported, the towns of Bourke, Cobar and White Cliffs received a month’s worth of rain, Narromine received 14 millimetres and Walgett, where level five water restrictions are being enforced, received around two millimetres.

While the rain might have brought some joy for farmers in the far west, it didn’t materialise in other areas of the state. The reality is that NSW is in the grips of one of the worst droughts on record and the economic impact of the drought is extending way beyond the farmer’s gate.

As we heard from country solicitors at the Law Society’s recent Rural Issues Conference, a farmer with a drought-related credit or debt problem is a person in need of urgent legal assistance, but potentially without the means of paying for it.

Which is why the Law Society is providing a grant of $50,000 to the Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW Central Region specifically to fund legal assistance for farmers and people in rural communities affected by the drought.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW Central Region (which covers more than half of the state) works closely with farmers and small related businesses who are suffering, or at imminent risk of suffering financial hardship to help them to resolve urgent issues and develop a plan for their future and that of their families and their enterprise. Part of the valuable service it provides is identifying the need for legal advice in relation to matters such as farm debt mediation and succession planning. Farmers and members of rural communities impacted by the drought will now be able to apply for grants of up to $1200 per individual to pay for legal advice through the confidential counselling service.

It’s hoped these grants will ensure much needed legal assistance for farmers and people in rural communities during these challenging times.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

< Go back