What an extraordinary act of kindness ! New state premier Kristina Keneally has agreed to waive water fees for six hundred drought stricken farmers in the Lachlan Valley of New South Wales.
Drought now covers 80.8% of this state and many of it's farmers have not had a profit from farming since the year 2000, and yet the government still puts it's hand out for water fees. In the case of the Lachlan Valley, they have been forced to pay water fees of about $ 6000 for each farm, despite receiving absolutely no water for the past three consecutive years.
Just imagine if the supermarket decided to not supply you with groceries, but insisted that you pay their bill anyway !
A demand for water fees when their is no water available to be supplied makes no sense at all. We live in a supposedly democratic country and that act of banditry would be impossible for anyone other than a government - which makes it's own laws !
It is noted that these fees are merely " waived ". Presumably the heavy hand of Treasury will again extend at the first sign of rain, whether or not that means the end of the drought.
Time for a rethink on laws that contravene the basics of fair trade !
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