Southern tableland farmers urged to share stories
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Peter Kenny is urging farmers to share their experiences. (Stateline Qld-file image)
People who have been affected by the drought are being urged to tell their stories at a public forum in Goulburn in the New South Wales southern tablelands today.
The forum is part of a two month tour of regional Australia by an expert panel set up to examine the social impact of drought and the effectiveness of support services for farming families and rural communities.
People will have the chance to tell the Drought Policy Review panel their views on what is working well, what else is needed and how things could be done better.
Panel chairman Peter Kenny says he particularly wants to hear about the impact of drought on employment and health and well-being.
He says the drought is taking a terrible toll on farmers and businesses.
"Well wherever we go there is a real level of depression brought on by the added stress the drought has put on people," he said.
"So that's quite hard to take actually. It's been quite a shock to the panel to hear the stories, particularly the level of distress that's there."
Mr Kenny says many people are leaving rural areas.
"Our rural communities aren't dead, but they're on the way and certainly the family farm situation is at risk," he said.
"A lot of places are being bought out by bigger places and corporates and if it continues to operate like this there will not be a family farm operation unless they are extremely large."
The panel will report back to the Federal Government at the end of September.
