The consistent refrain coming through from many of our farmers is the climate is changing, they don’t know or care what is causing it, but they are in trouble right now and need help.
I certainly agree with helping them now in whatever way we can. Immediately, they need financial relief, feed for their animals, and, if possible, free labour to help with the feeding even if just to give them a few days respite. They may need bulk water deliveries for home at least.
Most of all they need rain but the long-term forecast isn’t looking good.
The August to October outlook, issued 26 July 2018, shows most of mainland Australia is likely to be drier than average.
Days and nights are likely to be warmer than average during August to October for most of Australia, with August days very likely to be warmer than average.
These forecast warmer and drier conditions suggest that much of eastern and southern mainland Australia are less likely to see widespread respite in the coming season from current dry conditions.
While we help them through this time of crisis, they also need to start opening their ears and taking a more long-term interest in what causes climate change.
Adaptation must be part of the approach. Much work is being done on drought-resistant crops. More work needs to be done on water management.
But most of all, they have to accept that greenhouse gas emissions are making things worse and that we must, as a matter of urgency, cut them as far as we possibly can. We cannot eliminate them but we have to get back on a trajectory below the tipping point to catastrophe.
That means putting pressure on politicians because they are the only thing standing in our way.
Most farmers vote Nationals. They need to make their voices heard and drag the party into the 21st century or consign them to oblivion.
Barnaby lied to you. Matt Canavan is purely out to further his own ambition and is also lying to you. George Christensen is just wrong, about soooo many things.
It is time farmers understood the role they have played in thwarting our attempts to take action on climate change and took some responsibility for righting that wrong. This is not, as they so often put it, some inner-city greenie thing. It is their livelihood at stake.
If Nationals MPs want coal then they no longer represent farmers’ best interests.
Vote them out.
