NSW Labor has called on the Minister for Agriculture to provide financial relief for local oyster farmers affected by the recent flooding events.
Labor called on the NSW Government to waive fees and rents for at least 12 months for flood affected oyster farmers, and to better disaster proof the industry from shocks like floods and bushfires.
The industry pays a wide range of fees and rents to State Government agencies like NSW Fisheries, Crown Lands and the NSW Food Authority.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Mick Veitch, said the Minister had been missing in action so far and needed to respond to the real issues facing the oyster industry.
“On the back of bushfires, COVID-19 and now major flooding, many oyster farmers are struggling,” Veitch said.
“The least we can do is ensure they are not hit with bills from various Government agencies.”
The NSW Opposition also called on the Government to appoint a designated industry support officer to work with oyster farmers on immediate threats and recovery, and to look ahead at ways of “disaster proofing” the industry from the threat of climate change and disease.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said the local industry had been disappointed in the response from the Government so far.
“Our oyster farmers generate almost $60 million in product – we need to ensure this industry not only survives but grows,” Tesch said,
“A healthy oyster industry means healthy rivers and estuaries – and the Government needs to act more quickly in providing this type of support and financial relief.”
Recent flooding events have caused damage to infrastructure and left pollution and debris in the waterways, impacting the salinity and creating very difficult conditions for oyster farmers.
information source: Media release, Mar 31, 2022 NSW Labor