Thread: Crisis in the bush. Drought forcing graziers to consider doing the unthinkable

Very little time has been allocated to their issues so I wouldn’t be getting too excited judging by the commissioners behaviour thus far

Talking to my next door neighbour a couple of weeks ago - he said he is spending $5,000 a week on hay. And spending half a day, seven days a week, feeding stock; hard, relentless work for a man in his late fifties with diabetes and various other health problems. Saw him on Wednesday, and he said he was shipping off a load of cattle that night.

His wife left him a few years ago, and his children are all grown and have left home.

And he is probably one of the better off farmers in the area.

I'm thinking some of the long term unemployed could be made useful helping people like your neighbour. And before the usual suspects jump in, put up a better solution.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

His wife left him a few years ago, and his children are all grown and have left home.

And he is probably one of the better off farmers in the area.

Why? Because his missus left him?

Like any business, if the business becomes unviable, close it down and liquidate the assets before it gets too bad.
Another thing businesses should consider is where to operate the business. Is the location appropriate? There are some cattle properties currently for sale that aren't constantly in drought.
1/ Slaughterhouse Lane, TERANG VIC 3264 - Livestock Property For Sale in TERANG
1690 Ellerslie-Panmure Road, PANMURE VIC 3265 - Livestock Property, Lifestyle Rural Property For Sale in PANMURE
323 Missens Road, ECKLIN SOUTH VIC 3265 - Lifestyle Rural Property, Livestock Property For Sale in ECKLIN SOUTH

Unfortunately, foreign investors are snapping the good ones up.

Originally Posted by bob10

I'm thinking some of the long term unemployed could be made useful helping people like your neighbour. And before the usual suspects jump in, put up a better solution.

If the farmers are prepared to pay a decent wage then fair enough, Expecting then to do this for nothing is simply "Not On".

Originally Posted by trout1105

If the farmers are prepared to pay a decent wage then fair enough

No need. Do what other businesses do, get some 457s.

Or just import some slave labour.
Illegal Perth workers crammed into houses

Originally Posted by trout1105

If the farmers are prepared to pay a decent wage then fair enough, Expecting then to do this for nothing is simply "Not On".

Asset rich, but income poor farmers can barely keep themselves, let alone pay wages. I'm suggesting thought should be given to organising unemployed country youth into cadres, to give assistance where it is needed most. Volunteers only, an incentive could be a slightly higher new start allowance [ read dole ] . I suggest country youth because most would have a support base [ family, etc.] in the area, and the logistics and other problems of re locating city unemployed could be largely avoided. Simplistic? of course. But it's better than doing nothing at all. University educated experts complicate matters , carry out co-ordinated groups of navel gazing, resulting , for the most part, in millions of dollars being spent , and the original problem being lost under a mountain of paperwork. Skills gained working on these properties could be the gate way to a good job, when the good times return.