The complexity and rules surrounding federal government drought relief are still preventing Queenslanders from accessing that means of assistance, a Frontier Services survey has found.
Undertaken with 102 drought-declared landowners along the eastern seaboard in October, it has revealed that more than one in three, or 37 per cent of those who applied for relief in one form or another have not received any.
Either they were denied or were left waiting months for answers.
Some 38pc of respondents chose not to apply for funding, meaning that 60pc of the total didn't get the help they were eligible for, by virtue of where they lived.
Among them were Mitchell's Ben and Petra Mason who applied for and received funding, only to have to pay it back once forced cattle sales were seen as 'income', rendering them ineligible.
"The general public believes that most farmers receive handouts, but the reality is that few actually do," Ms Mason said. "As a general rule, farmers will not apply for or ask for assistance unless it's absolutely necessary; and even when we do reach out for government help, there's no guarantee anything will come through for us."
In March they applied to the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme for money to assist with the $200,000 cost of putting down a bore and despite being told they were eligible for $75,000 they've received only $16,000 to date.
In another instance of the difficulties accessing financial support, a Maranoa producer restocked with cows and calves earlier this year, only to be told that made them ineligible for support, whereas purchasing heifers was acceptable.
Frontier Services national director Jannine Jackson said the reason they undertook October's online questionnaire was because their bush chaplaincy service was "getting hammered" in terms of people's abilities to cope.
"We asked questions and it was all around the forms," she said. "Farmers are making life-altering decisions, and the most disheartening thing is for them to see the money roll out so easily for the COVID-related recovery."
Federal Drought Minister David Littleproud said a producer in south west Queensland was found to have defrauded the taxpayer on drought support, which was why there was a necessity for paper work.
Acknowledging the need for accountability, Ms Jackson said those who were going to scam the system would do so regardless.
"In one example a producer paid $15,000 to an accountant to help them fill out the forms to access a $50,000 loan," she said. "It's totally over-engineered."
Mr Littleproud said that drought support to farmers was designed to be a safety net, not an entitlement as the commercial decisions of farmers must always be theirs to make.
"The federal government has committed over $10 billion of taxpayers money to support farmers during drought while states have continued to remove themselves from drought support," he added.
Ms Jackson said that while she welcomed any government drought relief funding that had been distributed, Australian farmers were still quietly in need.
"How do we ensure that these Australians are being heard, that they do not get forgotten in the conversation?" she said.
"These are real people, real families, who have been suffering in drought for years, with no relief in sight.
"I just feel we are creating a two-stream economy here."
The Masons received assistance from Frontier Services' Outback Links program, which connects skilled volunteers with people in remote Australia who need a helping hand.
These volunteers donate their skills throughout the year doing repairs and maintenance on equipment, the home and around the property - free of charge.
"We had to get dozer work done during the winter months and there was no one located locally that could do it at that time," Ms Mason said.
"Meanwhile, Ben and I were flat out just keeping cattle alive as the drought conditions worsened.
"To have Frontier Services send two Outback Links volunteers to help was absolutely invaluable.
"It lifted the extra pressure off our shoulders. We could each go off and do what needed to be done and at the end of the day, we would have a beer and a chat."
The survey, run by Frontier Services, which is Australia's oldest bush charity, also revealed that 80 per cent of farmers had benefited from assistance from private charities like Frontier Services.
Related reading: Eight years in and waiting on the big wet
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
