FED: NFF welcomes flood package

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2000
FED: NFF welcomes flood package

CANBERRA, Dec 5 AAP - Farmers today welcomed the federal government's $216-million
flood-relief package, saying it should pressure the banks to also help out.

National Farmers' Federation president Ian Donges said the package was a generous response
to the most serious natural disaster for farmers in at least 25 years, and in terms of
financial loss, perhaps this century.

"I do congratulate the government for making a timely response to what is obviously
a very serious problem," he said.

Mr Donges said it was important to recognise that additional help was needed from the
NSW government and that the federal package had not been capped.

"That is very important to us as far as ongoing issues are concerned and of course
it is very hard at this stage to accurately assess the damage because it is still happening
right now," Mr Donges said.

He said he hoped the federal package would place pressure on the banks.

"I am not happy with the way the banks have handled the situation, I am sure a lot
of farmers aren't happy with it either.

"It is an opportunity now for the banks to recognise that the government has put some
money on the table," Mr Donges said.

"And I believe it is the social obligation on behalf of the banks that they also look
long and hard at their role in this situation because quite obviously they have a very
important role to complement the government's package."

AAP msl/daw/mg/br

KEYWORD: FLOODS NFF

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