mmm? How many of these farms getting tax payer funded support because of 'the drought' are not themselves viable? How many of the REAL farms will miss out because the national party pork barrel fails to roll their way?

The touted $350 million will be spent on drought relief over the next 18 months for farmers in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT.

WA gets forgotten again. I wonder why?

Distribution will of course not be decided on electoral imperatives - yeah sure!

And it seems on another level like a lot of money to me just to uphold the ‘myth of the bush’ for purely nationalistic reasons.

That said, what would a cost effective, environmentally sustainable, hand out for drought relief look like?

All good insights.

Perciles 'real world' thoughts and Elida's mention of the Water priorities issue.
F.H. on water policy....

Ranier here too ... for your sake I'd add one more point from the "When we humble ourslelves".. and that would definitely include the payment of unpaid aboriginal wages with interest, and many many outstanding issues which COULD be addressed. (Cherbourg infrastructure being another of them )

Pericles, I do actually believe in a connection between national repentance and humility and blessing of the land, but I do understand your position there.

hi there..guys

The Old School boys national party are traitors to the farmers flooding the country with cheap imports.
Once again the little man misses out while the corps sing in Church.
Mark vailes track record of exports is terrible. Everything comes from overseas while companies head out of Australia to employ cheaper labour.
Speaking of labour who have caused eveb more damage to this country and still want wake up.
nationals will need more than prays once the botttom line finally hits the general public.
They are a utter disgrace.

sorry about this but we who live on the Newnes plateau west of Sydney,, one of it's main water catchment areas, are actually praying that it doesn't rain (and being much more succesful by the look of it). so that those stupid fools in that big cancer on the landscape (Sydney that is) will wake up to themselves and stop raping and polluting the surrounding countryside.