A trio of Nationals MPs have added their voices to demands for additional drought assistance to farmers, brushing aside comparisons with the multimillion-dollar packages sought for SPC Ardmona and General Motors Holden.
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In a clear sign that the junior Coalition partner is prepared to push back against the dominant economic dries in the Liberal Party, Nationals MPs Darren Chester and John "Wacka" Williams and George Christensen have all thrown their support behind Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, with Mr Christensen suggesting the time was ripe to consider a government-backed rural development bank.
The comments are at odds with Treasurer Joe Hockey, who on Monday said drought assistance was already available to farmers and declared "'the age of entitlement is over, and the age of personal responsibility has begun".
Federal cabinet is meeting on Tuesday and later this week, the Nationals party room in Bundaberg, Queensland on Thursday this week, with the country MPs expected to thrash out details of the additional assistance they will seek from the federal government for farmers.
NSW senator Mr Williams told Fairfax Media that contrary to some media reports, Mr Joyce and his colleagues were not seeking $7 billion in assistance but that the drought was "deadly serious" and farmers needed help.
"We help people with floods, we help people burnt out by fires, this drought is a state of emergency too and the farmers need our help," he said.
"In September 2001 steers were making farmers about $2.20 a kilo, now they are making $1.60 a kilo. Tell me who in Australia was earning $500 a week 10 years ago and now gets $400 a week? The answer is no one. You can't expect the people who feed this nation to live on nothing."
Queensland LNP MP Mr Christensen said he was vehemently opposed to assistance for Holden, SPC and other companies because they had the backing of multinationals. But mum and dad farmers should be treated differently.
"If we want a viable agriculture sector in the future - and it's certainly government policy that agriculture is a major pillar of our economy - then I think we need to step up and support rural industries," he said.
"I would push the envelope and say my personal view is that we need to look at something radical to reshape the landscape. We may not need to stay in it for a long time, but the concept of a development bank needs to be discussed right now."
Victorian Nationals MP Darren Chester said the government had to play a role in supporting families as they battled drought.
"I think there is empathy in Australia for regional communities and taxpayers would not begrudge people that help," he said.
"It's not about propping up businesses that are not sustainable, it's about supporting families and communities who have had the misfortune of a drought which is now approaching two years and has taken away their resources to cope on their own."
The Financial Review reported on Tuesday that Mr Joyce would push for cabinet to relax the eligibility criteria for drought assistance by allowing farmers to earn more off-farm income before their drought payments were affected, and by lifting the threshold for farm assets.
Mr Hockey said cabinet would consider any submission for additional assistance brought by Mr Joyce in the coming weeks and pointed out a new drought assistance package would begin from July 1, but warned "if we are going to make Australia sustainable as an agriculture food bowl for Asia and particularly in a market that is changing enormously in relation to agriculture, then we've got to look at medium and long-term challenges as well".
